Cycling: Daniel Martinez has won the 61st Tour of the Basque Country. The Colombian was able to shake off his opponent Remco Evenepoel on the last stage and win the second thriller. The last day win went to the Basque Jon Izagirre.
Martinez climbs to overall victory
The Tour of the Basque Country is over. After six hilly stages, Daniel Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers) celebrate as overall winners. In the final climb, every second counted. After increasing the pace, Leader Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) did not follow again. So the way was prepared for the Colombian. Martinez kept the pace high so that no competitor could pull away. But the day's victory is allowed Jon Izagirre (Cofidis) cheer. The Basque came in the final ascent because of a swerve jonas vingegaard (Jumbo – Visma) fell, but fought his way back and, thanks to his knowledge of the course, won the downhill sprint Alexander Vlasov (Bora – hansgrohe) and Marc Soler (UAE). He even secured second place in the overall ranking.
Evenepoel tried everything
With a lead of two seconds went Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) in the final leg of the Tour of the Basque Country. He had to be alert at all times on the 135,7-kilometre section from Eibar to Arrate. In the penultimate climb were among others with him Alexander Vlasov (Bora – hansgrohe), jonas vingegaard (Jumbo – Visma) and bilbao hair (Bahrain – Victorious) escaped. But in the descent and the flat section afterwards he succeeded together with the overall second Daniel Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers) to unlock again. In the intermediate sprint – just nine kilometers from the finish – the Belgian increased his lead in the overall standings from two to three seconds. In the 4,6-kilometre Usartza final climb, every second counted at the 61st Itzulia Basque Country. Remco Evenepoel was finally unable to keep up with his opponents.
El enganchon de Vingegaard with Ion Izagirre
@BancoSabadell #itzulia pic.twitter.com/4Xwz6iqxMO— Itzulia Basque Country (@ehizulia) April 9, 2022
Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) goes to the Etapa 6 of the Vuelta al País Vasco 2022
Daniel Felipe Martínez (Ineos Grenadiers) se proclama campeon de la carrera española #itzulia #itzulia2022 #Noticiclismo #ciclismo pic.twitter.com/VfwyIECtU8— NotiCiclismo ▶ #Itzulia (@Noticiclismo1) April 9, 2022