Tour of the Basque Country 2024: Lapeira wins chaotic sprint, Roglic still leader

foto: Cor VosThe 2nd stage of the Itzulia Basque Country comes down to a sprint finish. Paul Lapeira takes the spoils in a chaotic and rain-soaked finale, while Primoz Roglic stays in the lead of the general classification. Mattias Skjelmose sits in second, Remco Evenepoel in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2024 Tour of the Basque Country

1. Paul Lapeira (fra)
2. Samuele Battistella (ita) s.t.
3. Louis Vervaeke (bel) s.t.
4. Pau Miquel (spa) s.t.
5. Alex Alanburu (spa) s.t.
6. Thomas Silva (spa) s.t.
7. Valentin Retailleau (fra) s.t.
8. Gonzalo Serrano (spa) s.t.
9. Brandon McNulty (usa) s.t.
10. Quinten Hermans (bel) s.t.

52. Carlos Rodriguez (spa) + 0.23
54. Santiago Buitrago (col) s.t.
55. Jay Vine (aus) s.t.
61. Jai Hindley (aus) s.t.
73. David Gaudu (fra) s.t.
158. Felix Gall (aut) + 3.38
161. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 3.41

GC after stage 1
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 0.10
3. Remco Evenepoel (bel) s.t.
4. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 0.14
5. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 0.15
6. Kévin Vauquelin (fra) + 0.16
7. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t.
8. Brandon McNulty (usa) + 0.23
9. Bruno Armirail (fra) + 0.24
10. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.25

Race report
Alexis Vuillermoz, Jetse Bol, Iván Cobo, Enekoitz Azparren and Xabier Mikel Azparren establish the breakaway in the run-up to the Saint-Ignace climb. The five open up a lead of 4 minutes. Cobo can’t follow pace and he waits for the peloton, while the other four are caught with 13 kilometres remaining.

Isaac del Toro takes a time bonus of 3 seconds in the last intermediate sprint. Juan Ayuso gains 2 seconds, Remco Evenepoel 1.

A crash marred finale on wet roads takes down runner-up Jay Vine and several other contenders.

Young Paul Lapeira powers to triumph in the ensuing sprint. Primoz Roglic finishes in the first group to stay in the GC lead, while Mattias Skjelmose moves up to second place and Remco Evenepoel to third place.

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2024 Tour of the Basque Country.