Those who cyclically predict the end of the world can now package another extraordinary event before everything blows up. A Colombian fighting for victory in a pure sprint, one of those wide after a roundabout that precedes a straight endowed with many kilometres. The ‘beetles’ belong more to oblivion every day, now cycling is a much less specialized modality, more plural. Sergio left Manzana Postobón very young and arrived in the Basque Country almost barefoot. The Euskadi Foundation opened its doors to him and whenever he can, this teaching stands out. “Eskerrik asko” (thank you very much), has thanked his second home after crossing the finish line in Amorebieta with an insulting superiority.
After a leg-breaking stage, with many ‘walls’, as Higuita himself says, 23 cyclists stayed to fight for the victory at the finish of Amorebieta. The Colombian left the last roundabout a little behind, sticking to the fences on the left. But he came back with enormous power from five cyclists who preceded him and he raised his arms leaving everyone in the wheel, with a huge advantage over Bagnoli and Skjelmose. The victory puts him in the Top 10 of the test. Until the last moment he was not sure if he would run the Itzulia because he had physical problems. He tested himself in the Miguel Indurain Grand Prix and fought for the victory, although he did not achieve his goal, he stayed behind Izaguirre with the thorn in him, which is removed today. He has one of the Vuelta and the general of the Volta last year. Another stage less for Vingegaard to be proclaimed champion. Another second has scratched bonus, and in the 13 that he has on Landa, ten have been with bonuses. Carapaz has had to put foot on land.
Everything remains the same, although the day has been very special for two men who pretended to be heroes and remained anonymous for posterity. Cavagna and Cattaneo, they put 140 kilometers between their chests and backs alone and reached a 4:20 lead. They looked like two locomotives smoking through Bizkaia. Until then they were allowed, with an average of 42 per hour. Burgaudeau tried to bridge between them and the peloton, but failed to connect. The leader Jumbo and Jayco organized the hunt. The Ineos also got to work a little later. With 20 km to go, order returned. Before heading towards Autzagane, in a very tight turn that meant going up almost standing still, Mas attacked with enormous power, with Vingegaard very attentive. Valter wrapped up the yellow superbly, as he has been doing throughout the lap. Landa did not enter quickly and had to redo himself. Then he attacked Chaves. Again the leader took the chevrons out of him. On the descent, very fast and technical, Izaguirre plunged into an open grave. There was no way to tickle the head of the race, that it was even thought of looking for the third stage in a row. Guerreiro was in the middle and it bothered him a bit. Higuita dispelled the temptation with his supersonic pedaling.
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.
Higuita described the victory of the fifth stage as “special”, since it was the first of the season and because of the memories of his beginnings in cycling as a cyclist for the Euskad FoundationYo. “It has been a very hard stage, we have gone to block to try to win the stage. We knew that the sprint was long and very fast and I had the strength to stay ahead. We have achieved a very important victory, for me and for the team”, he pointed out. Despite the difficulties on the climbs and the hardness of a day played at full pace, the Colombian held on among the best in the Amorebieta sprint and finished off successfully. “I thought he was going to break every wall, but we had to take advantage of this opportunity to win at Itzulia. A special victory because this land brings me many good memories from my beginnings at the Euskadi Foundation”. The rider from Medellín signed the first victory of the season and took the sting out of second place in the recent Miguel Indurain GP. “I was second, but I kept focused for the following races. I have removed the thorn thanks to a great job from the whole team. Tomorrow the fight is going to be very tough, this race is agonizing and everyone is going to look for their goals”, he predicted for the last stage.
Classification of the fifth stage
1. HIGUITA Sergio BORA – hansgrohe 3:59:57
2. BAGIOLI Andrea Soudal – Quick Step mt
3. SKJELMOSE Mattias Trek – Segafredo mt,
4. HAT Matteo Team Jayco AlUla mt
5. SCHMID Mauro Soudal – Quick Step mt
General
1. VINGEGAARD Jonas Jumbo-Visma 21:08:52
2. LANDA Mikel Bahrain – Victorious at 13
3. GAUDU David Groupama – FDJ 31
4. SKJELMOSE Mattias Trek – Segafredo 32
5. HAT Matteo Team Jayco AlUla 34
