The Colombian Sergio Higuita (Bora Hansgrohe) has prevailed in the sprint in a group of about twenty runners in the fifth stage of the 62 Itzulia Basque Country, 165.4 kilometers along Biscayan roads starting and finishing in Amorebieta after which he continues to be leader the Danish Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).
Higuita moved from the group of 19 cyclists that arrived ahead, with all the best, about 100 meters from the finish line and almost knocked all his rivals out of the wheel. An impressive sprint from the rider from Medellin, followed by the Italian Andrea Bagioli (Soudal Quick-Step) and the Danish Mattias Skjelmose.
The victory in Amorebieta helps the Colombian from Bora, whose victory was almost at home since in his day he rode with the Euskadi Cycling Foundation, to get into the Top10 of a race that Vingegaard continues to lead, who added another second in a sprint bonus.
Therefore, the Dane is already ahead of Landa, second overall, by 13 seconds. Further away is David Gaudu, who has also added a bonus second and is third, 31 seconds behind.
Fourth is Skjelmose, thanks to the six seconds he gained in the sprint, at 32, and fifth is Matteo Sobrero, at 34. Ion Izagirre is also at 34, sixth, at 37 Enric Mas, seventh, and at 38 Higuita, eighth.
Like every day, the stage was marked for a large part by a break. That quickly established itself again and was led by two riders from the same team, Soudal Quick-Step. The 'Pack of Wolves' seemed to want to repeat the success of 2021 in Ondarroa by Honoré and Cerny, sending Rémi Cavagna and Matia Cattaneo ahead almost from the start of the stage. This time he didn't make it.
But the duo did make their way and came to have about five minutes of advantage before ending up giving in to the work of the Jumbo of the leader Vingegaard and Jayco Matteo Sobrero, fourth overall. First Cavagna was caught, going up Belarrinaga (3rd), 25 from the finish line, and a little later, 21, already on the descent, Cattaneo.
As in the third stage that ended in Amasa-Villabona, after the section with climbs came the one with the walls, which today were also the decisive ones. Although as a preview of a special sprint that Vingegaard took advantage of to add one more second.
The two expected walls, the first one more important than the last one, did not make any more select the wheat from the chaff of the bunch. That was divided into groups, with the best in the first, a group of 19 cyclists who came ahead at the finish line.
A flat arrival in which Higuita gave a recital. It was impressive to see him move about 100 meters from the finish line that he almost stopped the rest of the wheel.
Since in the end there were no differences between the first, the race, as expected, will be decided tomorrow in the sixth and final stage. The final fireworks with start and finish in Eibar, the traditional final day of Itzulia.
As usual in recent years, it will be a short, 137.8 km, explosive route full of slopes and climbs, scoring points or not. This time there are seven scoring highs, although without the usual ending in Arrate.
But the reference climb of Basque cycling will be promoted. A total of two times, the first through Krabelin (km.70; 5 km at 9.6 percent unevenness) and the second through Izua (km.111; 4.1 to 9.2), both classified as First Category .
There is still another top of the First Division, that of Azurki (5.1 to 7.4), which will be climbed earlier (km.24.9) and will open fire on a route that also includes Elkorrieta (km.13.5 ), as an aperitif of Azurki; Gorla (km.45; 2nd, 9.6 to 5.7), before Krabelin; Trabakua (km.92.6; 3rd, 3.3 to 7.1), before Izua; and Urkaregi (km.125; 3rd, 5 to 4.8), prior to arriving in Eibar after his 5km descent.
Enough ground to try everything and see if Landa can put Vingegaard in trouble or, as it seems, the Dane will pull the hierarchy and make it clear why he won the 2022 Tour.
