Tour of the Basque Country 2024: Sprint win Hermans, Roglic still leader

foto: Cor VosThe 3rd stage of the Itzulia Basque Country boils down to a sprint of a decimated peloton. Quinten Hermans takes the spoils, while Primoz Roglic stays in the overall race lead (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2024 Tour of the Basque Country

1. Quinten Hermans (bel)
2. Edoardo Zambanini (ita) s.t.
3. Alex Aranburu (spa) s.t.
4. Davide De Pretto (ita) s.t.
5. Nikias Arndt (ger) s.t.
6. Ethan Hayter (gbr) s.t.
7. Romain Grégoire (fra) s.t.
8. Kévin Vauquelin (fra) s.t.
9. Vito Braet (bel) s.t.
10. Valentin Retailleau (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 3
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 0.07
3. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 0.10
4. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 0.14
5. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + s.t.
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
The route climbs for the start on the Otsondo. Which inspires the riders to go all in their fight for the breakaway. The battle still rages halfway up the second climb, the Usategieta Gaina, and then it’s Alan Jousseaume who gives it a go. Tom Paquot and Eric Fagundez try to chase him down and they manage to do so on descent. The trio cavres out a maximim lead of 4 minutes, while James Fouché tracks them down after a chase of ten of kilometres.

Paquot is the last attacker to be reeled in with 43 kilometres remaining. Moments later yellow jersey Primoz Roglic hits the deck in the fast run-up to the Olaberria climb. The peloton takes it easy and the Slovene regains contact in the climb.

Louis Meintjes strikes in the last climb and he reaches the summit in first position. He moves into the KOM lead.

Remco Evenepoel gains a time bonus of 3 seconds in the intermediate sprint. Jonas Vingegaard takes 1.

Then Marc Soler speeds up. Gorka Izagirre and Nelson Oliveira go with him, but the three are caught with 3.2 kilometres remaining.

Juan Aysuo is among the riders who hit the deck in the finale before Quinten Hermans sprints to a commanding victory.

Primoz Roglic stays in the GC lead, while Remco Evenepoel swaps places with Mattias Skjelmose thanks to the 3 bonus seconds underway.

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2024 Tour of the Basque Country.