País Vasco: Ben Swift wins in Xemein

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Ben Swift (Team Sky) won a thrilling stage from of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco from Eibar to Xemein, ahead of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) in second and Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma QuickStep) in third. 

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) retained his lead after defending against a strong attack from Valverde on the final climb. The race concludes on Saturday with a 25.9km time trial between Markina and Xemein with Contador just 12 seconds clear of Valverde in second place, and Michal Kwiatkowski with a chance of fighting for the overall at 41 seconds down.

While the battle for the overall simmered under the Basque sun, today was a day for Swift to celebrate. Arguably Sky's standout performer of the season so far, the all-rounder put in another case for selection in Team Sky's Tour de France line up with a dogged display on the tough terrain that littered the stage before unleashing a fine sprint and a cry of victory that even Dave Brailsord, back in the United Kindgom, will have heard.

"That's one of the best wins of my career, definitely. This is such a hard race but it's nice to get the win in today. It was really hard but my legs felt really good. This is one of the best periods of my career," Swift said at the finish.

Sky came into the race under somewhat of a cloud, with their Grand Tour contenders struggling with form, and other than Swift they've relatively anonymous here too.

Their Spanish climber Xabier Zandio did manage to make it into the large break of the day along with Ruben Plaza (Movistar Team), Nelson Oliveira (Lampre-Merida), Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge), Bob Jungels (Trek), Koldo Fernández (Garmin-Sharp), Philippe Gilbert (BMC), Bauke Mollema (Belkin), Tim Wellens (Lotto-Belisol), Pierre Serry (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Warren Barguil (Giant-Shimano), Omar Fraile and Luis León Sánchez (Caja Rural-RGA), Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana) and David Malacarne (Europcar).

Despite strength in numbers they were never able to establish a sizeable gap with first Tinkoff and then Movistar controlling the pace of the peloton.

It was Zandio who led over the third last climb of the day, but with the peloton at 39 and the overall battle about to start, the break's chances were numbered.

Oliveira slipped clear on the descent but on the Isua climb he was reeled in and quickly spat out with only Wellens, Jungles and Mollema able to hold off Valverde's men.

With 13 kilometres and one climb to go the gap was a mere 18 seconds, and despite a swashbuckling display of descending the Luxembourg champion, the trio were caught with Pieter Weening injecting a swift counter attack.

The Dutchman could have been two Tour de France cols clear for all it mattered once Roman Kreuziger hit the front. The Tinkoff rider devoured an 18 second gap in no time and strung out the remnants of the lead group in the process.

Once the Tinkoff rider's duties were completed Tony Martin took centre stage, but he couldn't match the pace of Valverde whose vicious attack brought Contador and then yesterday's winner Poels with him.

On the twisting descent to the finish, despite Valverde's best efforts, Martin and BMC's Cadel Evans and Samuel Sanchez brought them back. Swift was still present and was too good for the rest come the sprint.

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