Isaac del Toro is on a brilliant season thus far and after having climbed a lot in the UCI Rankings last week, he will do so even further as he has just won the Vuelta a Burgos. However, the UAE Team Emirates – XRG rider couldn’t conquer the queen stage as he was defeated once again by Giulio Ciccone.
The day’s breakaway was formed by Carlos GarcÃa Pierna, Mathijs Paasschens, Txomin Juaristi, Nico Denz and Samuele Zoccarato. It wasn’t to be the winning move of the day but it forced the peloton to ride a good pace throughout the day and the last survivors would last quite a long way to the stage.
On the penultimate ascent of the day GarcÃa Pierna went up the road in front, on a climb whose final 1.5 kilometers averaged over 10%, and he was joined by Afonso Eulálio who attacked from the peloton and tried to pull off another surprise win for Bahrain – Victorious. The Portuguese climber went solo but was then caught in the first kilometers of the final 6-kilometer climb to Lagunas de Neila where the overall classification was always expected to be decided.
The main favourites didn’t leave it to the end to attack either as Isaac del Toro moved with 2.9 kilometers to go, followed by Giulio Ciccone – the same that had happened at the Clásica San Sebastián. Race leader Léo Bisiaux was put into difficulty and so was Giulio Pellizzari. The Italian recovered from his stage 1 to win the queen stage, whilst Del Toro with his second place managed to win the overall classification, distancing his direct rivals. Lorenzo Fortunato rode to third on the day.