Itzulia Basque Country stage 4 - live coverage

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Preview: Will Primoz Roglic demolish the field again at Itzulia Basque Country?

Itzulia Basque Country: Pello Bilbao wins hilly stage 3

Evenepoel: I hope the rest of Itzulia will be a little less hard than today

-120km

After a blistering opening hour of racing, we pick up the action at the base of the day's first climb to Vivero (4.4km at 7.2%), where a group of 14 riders has a lead of 2:14 over the peloton.

Cristian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies), Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Mauri Vansevenant (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost), Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange-Jayco), Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Mark Donovan (DSM), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Oscar Rodriguez (Movistar), Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Iturria (Euskadi-Euskaltel) and Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe) escaped after 20km or so of racing.

Kern-Pharma have joined Jumbo-Visma in setting the pace at the head of the peloton. Primoz Roglic carries the yellow jersey, 5 seconds up on Remco Evenepoel and 14 ahead of Aleksandr Vlasov. 

General classification after stage 3

1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 9:49:47

2 Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 0:00:05

3 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:14

4 Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 0:00:18

5 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 0:00:19

6 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma

7 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Cofidis 0:00:20

8 Daniel Martinez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers 0:00:21

9 Pierre Latour (Fra) TotalEnergies 0:00:25

10 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 0:00:28

-114km

Cristian Rodriguez leads Davide Formolo and Oscar Rodriguez over the top of the category 3 Vivero. There are three more classified climbs on the agenda today, The category 3 Jata (9.1km at 3%), the category 2 Urruztimendi (1.9km at 11%) and then the reverse side of Vivero, which is ranked category 2 and climbs for 6km at 6.3%. The summit of that final climb comes just 20km from the finish.

-106km

The escapees have stretched their advantage on the first climb, and the gap now stands at 2:50. Cristian Rodriguez, 2:12 off Roglic this morning, is the virtual overall leader. 

Pello Bilbao denied Julian Alaphilippe a second successive win in yesterday's gripping finale in Amurrio, pipping the world champion in the sprint. As on Tuesday, Remco Evenepoel played a key role in teeing up Alaphilippe, and QuickStep-AlphaVinyl will hope that duo can combine to similar effect in the Ardennes Classics. "It was incredible," Evenepoel said of yesterday's finale. "The two major climbs in the final were really hard. It was actually really tough to hang on, especially when Yates put in an attack on the [second] climb, it was really hard. I just tried to put a really big pace to at least hang on with the group." Read more here.

-95km

Break:

Cristian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies), Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Mauri Vansevenant (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost), Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange-Jayco), Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Mark Donovan (DSM), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Oscar Rodriguez (Movistar), Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Iturria (Euskadi-Euskaltel) and Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe)

Peloton at 3:16

The shift in date of Paris-Roubaix for this year has also slightly altered the rhythm of the Spring. The Circuit de la Sarthe is taking place this week with a number of Roubaix contenders using the French race to keep their form ticking over for the big appointment a week on Sunday. There are doubts, however, about Peter Sagan's participation in Paris-Roubaix after he was forced to abandon the race on stage 2. It is rare indeed for Sagan to pull out of a race of any description. "As far as I know, it’s the first time he abandons a stage race other than because of a crash. Paris-Roubaix is the next race on his calendar," his spokesperson Gabriele Uboldi said. "It’s not yet decided if he will do it or not, but looking at how riders like Pedersen are going here, it seems difficult for Peter to get back in shape on time to challenge him.” Jean-François Quénet has all the details here.

-82km

Back in the Basque Country, meanwhile, the pace remains searingly high, with the average speed still in excess of 47kph. Bruno Armirail leads the break through the intermediate sprint in the coastal village of Sopela, where their lead over the bunch is 3:10.

-73km

Out in the break, Oscar Rodriguez recovers from a mechanical issue and quickly rejoins the head of the race. Back in the peloton, Antwan Tolhoek (Trek-Segafredo) has abandoned the race.

-70km

The 14 leaders are through the fishing and surfing village of Armintza, and they are now climbing again as they begin the category 2 ascent of Jata (9.1km at 3%). 

Situation

Break:

Cristian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies), Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Mauri Vansevenant (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost), Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange-Jayco), Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Mark Donovan (DSM), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Oscar Rodriguez (Movistar), Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Iturria (Euskadi-Euskaltel) and Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe)

Peloton at 2:30

Jumbo-Visma continue to set the tempo in the peloton. This climb's relatively gentle gradients shouldn't cause too many issues in the bunch, but the high tempo to this point will surely weigh on the legs come the rather punchier climbs in the finale this afternoon.

Felix Grossschartner loses contact with the front group on the climb of Jata. Meanwhile, Cristian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies) sets out in pursuit of the king of the mountains points on offer at the summit. 

-57km

Break:

Cristian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies), Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Mauri Vansevenant (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost), Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange-Jayco), Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Mark Donovan (DSM), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Oscar Rodriguez (Movistar), Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Iturria (Euskadi-Euskaltel) 

Peloton at 3:15

Cristian Rodriguez led his namesake Oscar and Mikel Iturria over the summit of Jata, while the Jumbo-Visma controlled peloton crested the top of the climb just over three minutes back.

Jumbo-Visma remain in command of the situation in the bunch, but the terrain is more testing in the final part of this stage. The 19km gap from the summit of the final climb to the finish might limit the risk of frissons in the peloton, but the margins are tight and the level is very, very high, so anything is possible.

-53.5km

Out in front, the break has finished the descent off Jata. As the road rises again on an unclassified climb, Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange) jumps away from the break and opens a sizeable gap...

Grosschartner, dropped from the break on the climb of Jata, is caught by the Jumbo-Visma-led peloton. 

-49km

Break:

Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange-Jayco)

Chasers at 0:33

Cristian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies), Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Mauri Vansevenant (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost), Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Mark Donovan (DSM), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Oscar Rodriguez (Movistar), Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Iturria (Euskadi-Euskaltel)

Peloton 3:20

Grmay looks fully committed to this solo effort, and the Ethiopian has built a lead of half a minute over his erstwhile companions. They may be hoping the rugged terrain will doom this move, but he is dealing well with the rolling roads for the time being.

-47km

Back in the bunch, meanwhile, delegations from Movistar, QuickStep and Bora-Hansgrohe move up alongside Jumbo-Visma. They're 8km or so from the category 2 Urruztimendi (1.9km at 11%), and that will be a key moment in this afternoon's stage. 

That looks like an increasingly smart move from Grmay, who perhaps sensed there would be little collaboration in the break. He is happily padding out his advantage on the rest of the break, though the speed is ratcheting up in the peloton behind, with Ineos also moving up on behalf of Adam Yates. Ineos also, of course, have Geraint Thomas posted in the group just behind Grmay.

-43km

The intensity has risen considerably in the bunch and the pace is blistering ahead of the Urruztimendi. Ben Tulett is promiment here on behalf of Ineos. 

-42km

Break:

Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange-Jayco)

Chasers at 0:54

Cristian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies), Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Mauri Vansevenant (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost), Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Mark Donovan (DSM), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Oscar Rodriguez (Movistar), Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Iturria (Euskadi-Euskaltel)

Peloton 2:54

-40km

Grmay begins the short but wickedly steep Urruztimendi (1.9km at 11%) with a lead of 53 seconds on the rest of the break and 2:09 on the bunch. We can expect those time gaps to shrink once the gradient bites. 

Grmay is on the climb. The road is viciously steep and the road is also very, very narrow, which makes positioning of pivotal importance. Julian Alaphiilippe figures the safest place to be is at the very head of the bunch.

Alaphilipp and Evenepoel are well placed at the head of the bunch alongside a strong Jumbo-Visma delegation. Sepp Kuss takes up the reins as the climb begins...

Grmay is struggling to keep the gear turning over, and he is caught by Ruben Guerreiro (EF-EasyPost), Geraint Thomas (Ineos) and Victor Lafay (Cofidis). They move past the Ethiopian and move to the head of the race on this harsh climb.

The bunch is now 1:30 down on the three news leaders, Guerreiro, Thomas and Lafay, but the pace is relatively steady on the early slopes of the Urruztimendi.

Bruno Armirail has come past Grmay and made it up to Lafay, Thomas and Guerreiro, leaving four riders at the head of the race in the final kilometre of the climb of Urruztimendi. This quartet has 1:33 in hand on the bunch. 

-38km

Break:

Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost)

Peloton at 1:38

Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost) lead over the summit of Urruztimendi, and they appear to have distanced the rest of the day's early break. Armirail was first over the top, and these four riders have 1:43 in hand on the bunch. Their hopes of fighting it out for stage victory are still alive, though it all depends on how the bunch tackles the final ascent of Vivero. 

There was a fierce battle for positions ahead of Urruztimendi, but the GC riders have been happy to take the climb on together. It remains to be seen if that détente will hold on the day's final ascent of Vivero.

Lafay, Thomas, Armirail and Guerreiro are collaborating quite smoothly and they have opened their lead on the bunch out to two minutes. All of a sudden, the break's prospects of fighting out the stage honours appear to be rising.

-32km

Break:

Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost)

Peloton at 2:35

-31km

The front group extends to seven riders, as Formolo, Vansevenant and Iturria bridge across to Armirail, Thomas, Lafay and Guerreiro. 

The seven leaders pass through the finish line in Zamudio for the first time with a lead of 2:42 in hand on the bunch. The road rises slightly in the final kilometre, though the key moment in this finale comes on the 6km ascent of Vivero.

Bruno Armirail began the day 2:45 off the yellow jersey, and he is just about the virtual race leader right now, though Jumbo-Visma will surely slice that advantage on this final lap.

-28km

Break:

Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost), Mauri Vansevenant (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Iturria (Euskadi-Euskaltel)

Chasers at 0:40

Cristian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies), Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Mark Donovan (DSM), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Oscar Rodriguez (Movistar), Tsgabu Grmay (BikeExchange-Jayco)

Peloton at 2:55

-26km

The final climb to Vivero (6km at 6.3%) begins with 25.6km to go. The pace in the bunch is rising in anticipation and the break's lead is dropping accordingly. 2:04 is the gap. 

-25km

The seven leaders begin the climb to Vivero with a lead of 1:42 on the peloton. Armirail's hopes of taking yellow from Roglic look to have evaporated, but can these leaders hold off the closing peloton?

Geraint Thomas take up the reins on the lower slopes of the climb but the previous spirit of collaboration in this move appears to have dissipated slightly.

Grmay and the riders dropped from the break have been caught by the bunch, which is being led by Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos).

Out in front, Victor Lafay (Cofidis) attacks on the 14% slopes at the foot of the climb. Armirail comes with him, and this French tandem has a gap over the rest of the break. The bunch, meanwhile, drops to within 1:02.

Victor Lafay presses on alone at the head of the race as Armirail struggles to match his pace. The rest of the break is splintered along the hillside behind them.

Back in the bunch, TotalEnergies set the pace and now Pierre Latour accelerates... Primoz Roglic and Adam Yates are prominent in the reduced bunch that follows him.

Now Gianluca Brambilla (Trek-Segafredo) presses on from the bunch and he opens a small gap over Roglic, Yates et al. Roglic is content to let the Italian go, but he immediately follows when Latour kicks again.

Out in front, Victor Lafay is all alone and dealing quite smoothly with the stiffest part of this climb. He still has 4km of climbing to go, but he has a decent lead over the rest of the break and a buffer of 1:19 over the yellow jersey group.

-23km

Dani Martinez (Ineos) is the next man to attack from the yellow jersey group. Once again, Roglic follows, pedalling very smoothly. Vlasov, Yates, Bilbao et al are with him, but the yellow jersey group is thinning out considerably...

-22.5km

Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel haven't been as immediately responsive as Rgllic, but the QuickStep duo remain in this reduced yellow jersey group, which trails Lafay by 1:27 with a little over half of the final climb to go.

Victor Lafay is through the steepest part of the climb, though the upper reaches are not devoid of difficulty. The Frenchman is pedalling very smoothly. Armirail, Thomas and Guerreiro are his immediate chasers...

In the yellow jersey group, Remco Evenepoel shuts down a Bahrain Victorious move on the climb. The steepest section is past, and this strongman's plateau over the top might be better suited to the Belgian's qualities. 

-21km

Victor Lafay has 2km of climbing to go and a decent lead over Geraint Thomas, Ruben Guerreiro, Bruno Armirail and Davide Formolo. The yellow jersey group, meanwhile, is still 1:34 down. 

Remco Evenpoel sets a very brisk pace at the head of the yellow jersey group. He stretches things out considerably, but it will be difficult to create separation on these gradients...

And, at that, Julian Alaphilippe rides along the gutter and accelerates viciously... Only Dani Martinez can come with him, but now Jonas Vingegaard scrambles across in pursuit...

Martinez, Alaphilippe and Vingegaard have opened a gap of 5 seconds or so over the yellow jersey group. Vingegaard is not contributing for now, and Movistar are managing to keep the gap at just a handful of seconds.

-19km

Victor Lafay (Cofidis) leads over the climb of Vivero. He has 44 seconds in hand on Armirail, Thomas, Guerreiro and Formolo, and 1:18 in hand on the yellow jersey group.

Alaphilippe, Martinez and Vingegaard are brought back nearr the top of the climb, but still the world champion doesn't relent. Alaphilippe kicks again in a bid to force clear, but the slopes are too gentle to split things here.

Alaphilippe continues to drive the 40-strong yellow jersey group on the descent off Viivero. They are 1:11 down on the leader Lafay.

-17km

Remco Evenepoel takes over and accelerates on the sweeping descent. Roglic is immediately onto his wheel, but the group has stretched considerably behind him.

-15km

Break:

Victor Lafay (Cofidis)

Chasers at 0:50

Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Geraint Thomas (Ineos), Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-EasyPost), Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates)

Yellow jersey group at 1:05

-13km

Victor Lafay (Cofidis) has a minute in hand on the yellow jersey group on this descent. It's touch and go as to whether the Frenchman can stay clear, but he is coping well with this descent thus far. The road flattens and then kicks up in the final 8km, however, and that's where his lead could begin to shrink rapidly, not least due to the headwind in the finale.

-11km

Bahrain Victorious set the pace on the descent off the Vivero, but they haven't clawed back much of Lafay's lead just yet. Thomas, Armirail, Guerreiro and Formolo remain between the lone leader and the yellow jersey group.

-10km

A crash at the rear of the yellow jersey group sees a TotalEnergies rider go down heavily, though he is able to remount and continue. 

-9km

Formolo, Thomas, Guerreiro and Armirail are caught by the yellow jersey group as the road flattens out. Bahrain Victorious and QuickStep-AlphaVinyl set the pace, 57 seconds down on the lone leader Victor Lafay (Cofidis). 

-8km

There are 40 or so riders in this yellow jersey group. For now, only Bahrain and QuickStep seem keen to lead the pursuit, but UAE Team Emirates have five riders in this group and they might be tempted to take this up for Diego Ulissi.

-7.5km

UAE Team Emirates take up the pace-making now for Ulissi, still 56 seconds down on Lafay.

It appears that Pierre Latour was the unfortunate faller from TotalEnergies, and that will be very costly for his GC hopes. 

-6km

Lafay was a stylish stage winner at Guardia Sanframondi in last year's Giro d'Italia and the Frenchman is on the cusp of another WorldTour win here, even if UAE Team Emirates are pushing on behind him. 46 seconds the gap.

-5km

Lafay retains 49 seconds of his lead as he enters the final 5km. UAE are still leading the charge behind through Jan Polanc.

The gap drops to 32 seconds, though it's unclear if the time gaps reported are reliable. Lafay still looks to be pedalling well, but it's not certain if that will be enough...

-3km

Lafay still has 26 seconds as he enters the final 3km. Polanc and Marc Soler swap turns on the front for their UAE teammate Diego Ulissi. Evenepoel sits perched behind them.

-2.5km

Bahrain comes through to help UAE with the chase, and this could doom Lafay...

-2km

Victor Lafay has 13 seconds in hand as he enters the final 2km,. The yellow jersey group can see him just in front of them, and it's going to be very, very difficult for the Frenchman to stay clear...

The chasers can't afford a moment's hesitation, however. And at that, Evenepoel takes over the chase on behalf of Alaphilippe...

-1km

Evenepoel's turn makes the difference. The Belgian remorselessly catches Lafay and continues to stretch out the yellow jersey group in the final kilometre. 

What a show of force from Evenepoel, who leads into the final 300 metres...

Dani Martinez opens the sprint from distance ahead of the final chicane...

Julian Alaphilippe closes, but he has ground to make up...

Daniel Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers) wins stage 4 of Itzulia Basque Country

Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) was second, just the width of a tyre behind. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) took third ahead of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), who retains the overall lead.

Result

1 Daniel Martinez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers 4:15:23

2 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) QuickStep-AlphaVinyl

3 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates

4 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma

5 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious

6 Orluis Aular Caja (Col) Rural-Seguros RGA

7 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) EF Education-EasyPost

8 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ

9 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe

10 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Trek-Segafredo  

General classification

1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 14:05:10

2 Remco Evenepoel (Bel) QuickStep-AlphaVinyl 00:00:05

3 Daniel Martinez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:11

4 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:00:14

5 Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:18

6 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 00:00:19

7 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma

8 Jon Izagirre (Spa) Cofidis 00:00:20

9 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) QuickStep-AlphaVinyl 00:00:22

10 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:32

Daniel Martinez on his victory: “The finale was very hard and the rivals were very hard to beat, riders of great quality like Alaphilippe. But I felt good and I had good legs and I wanted to go for the sprint. When I saw nobody was going for it before 200 metres to go, I decided to go for it.

“We had Geraint [Thomas] in front in the break, but it was hard to bring back [Victor] Lafay, he only came back in the last kilometre. The next two stages are very hard. But together with Adam [Yates] we’re going well and we’ll be looking for the win.”

Julian Alaphilippe on a second successive second place: “Honestly at the summit of the final climb, I didn’t think we’d bring back the break. I heard it was Victor Lafay who was still in front and he’s a very strong rider. I wanted to try for the win but I would also have been happy if Victor had won. But in the end, Remco did a great job again. My legs were good but I was just missing a little something. I don’t know what was missing. My confidence was missing a little, even if I won a couple of days ago, which did me good. But you can’t win every day either.”

A full report, results and pictures from today's stage are available here.