Labastida (Álava) (EFE).- The British Ethan Hyater (INEOS) is the first leader of the 62 Basque Country Itzulia after winning the sprint in the first stage of the Basque race, a 164.5-kilometre route starting in Vitoria and arrival in Labastida.
Hayter finished off the brilliant work of his team in the final stretch of the stage, which was started by Jonathan Castroviejo and finished off by Omar Fraile, throwing him up to 150 meters from the finish line.
It was the icing on the cake of a stage in which the British team played a leading role, which controlled a good part of the stage and also took the three seconds of the bonus in the Laguardia special sprint.
In this sprint, the current winner of the race, Daniel Felipe Martínez, prevailed over the great favourite, Jonas Vingegaard.
The Colombian took three seconds and the Dane two.
The British cyclist from Ineos – Grenadiers Ethan Hayter with the jersey of the youngest winner after winning the first stage of the Itzulia Basque Country 2023. EFE/L. RICH
At the finish line, the Englishman, who added 10 bonus seconds, overtook the Swiss Mauro Schmid in the sprint on a slight climb, for whom he had also worked hard on the Soudal Quick-Step.
Third and fourth were locals Jon Aberasturi (Trek Segafredo) and Alex Aranburu (Movistar), and fifth was Venezuelan Orluis Aular (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).
Leading role of sprinters
The day was destined to end with the sprinters taking center stage, since, although the entire route was very winding, there was only one climb, Opakua (2nd), at the beginning of the stage (km.33.1).
The first break of the race was carried out by three riders from teams that are obliged to seek this type of adventure, the locals Jon Barrenetxea (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and the also Spanish Cristian Rodríguez (Arkea Samsic ).
Juaristi from Biscay and Rodríguez from Almería started after 10 kms. from the start and they were joined by Barrenetxea, also from Biscay.
The trio, to which Ibon Ruiz wanted to join without success, came to reach a 4-minute difference and shared the first points for the Mountain. Whose jersey will be worn tomorrow by Barrenetxea, who was crowned in the lead by Opakua (2nd).
Meanwhile, in the big group. control of INEOS, current winner of the race with the Colombian Daniel Felipe Martínez; tension when some wind appeared for fear of the fans; and Pello Bilbao problems with some physical discomfort.
end of the getaway
The adventure of the three hard workers on the route, of more than 120 kms., died 30 kms away. from the finish line, almost unwillingly from the peloton, which took almost three kilometers to absorb Rodríguez and Barrenetxea, whom they kept a few meters away, after swallowing Juaristi.
The next thing that enlivened the race was the Laguardia special sprint, 20 km away. goal, which rewarded with bonuses.
They were shared by the 2022 winner, Dani Martínez, who took three seconds; the great favorite for the final victory and champion of the 2022 Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), who achieved two; and Brandon McNulty (UAE), who added one.
That fight accelerated the peloton, which even split before facing the final sprint, with the finish line after two slopes in which they had to endure to arrive with options.
The second stage will take the runners on Navarre roads this Tuesday from Viana to Leitza through 193.8 kilometers. Along the way, a total of five high scores: three from Second and two from Third.
The most important, that of Arkiskil (2nd; 11 km at 3.2 percent), with the top just 5 km from the finish line. Before that, the heights of Etxauri (km.74.3; 2a; 11.3 to 3.3), Uitzi (km.123.4; 3ª), a first ascent to Arkiskil by another slope (km.134.1; 3ª) and Departures (km.147.8; 2ª; 2.3 to 9.2). EFE
