Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), thanks to a huge job by Remco Evenepoel in the final, won the second stage of the 61st Tour of the Basque Country (WorldTour) on Tuesday. After 207.6 km between Leitza and Viana, the double French world champion was ahead of his compatriot Fabien Doubey (TotalEnergies) and Quinten Hermans (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert). The first difficulty, at the very start of the race, the Uitzi (3.7 km at 6.9 percent), inspired four adventurers, all Basque: Julen Amezqueta (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH ), Ibai Azurmendi (Euskatel-Euskadi) and Ibon Ruiz (Kern Pharma). They remained four on the Lizarraga (9.6 km at 5.4 percent) and counted up to 6 minutes ahead of the peloton.
Last survivor of the quartet, Ibon Ruiz was caught 500 meters from the line, spurred on by a powerful relay from Remco Evenepoel. Ideally placed by his Belgian teammate, who finished 9th, Alaphilippe had no difficulty in settling the sprint of the favorites in a last kilometer uphill. This is the first victory of the season for the 29-year-old Frenchman, the 38th of his career.
Overall, Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), winner of the opening time trial ahead of Evenepoel, is 5 seconds ahead of the Belgian and 16 over Frenchman Rémi Cavagna (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl).
On Wednesday, the 3rd stage will connect Llodio to Amurrio (181.7 km). The Tour of the Basque Country ends on Saturday in Arrate. Roglic is the title holder.
