Itzulia Basque Country: Jonas Vingegaard sends GC warning with triple-win domination
The Dane dropped everyone on the final climb to solo home an emphatic victory. Landa and Izagirre hit podium, with McNulty in 7th.
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Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) sent a message to his would-be Tour de France rivals with a dominant week to win the Itzulia Basque Country.
Vingegaard attacked to his third stage victory of the week in Saturday’s sixth and final stage to secure the overall title. He dropped the entire field on the Cat. 1 Izua climb with about 25km to go, and drove to the line alone to secure the emphatic victory.
Vingegaard came into the Basque Country tour determined to impose his will on what many call the most difficult one-week stage race to win.
“It was a hard day. It was a really good day for us,” Vingegaard said, thanking his teammates. “We did the perfect job today. I was thinking if I have to go, it’s on the second-to-last climb, and I had the legs and I wanted to try.”
After seeing arch-rival Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) relegate him to third at Paris-Nice last month, Vingegaard calmly picked his way to victory this week.
The Dane won three of the six stages, and reconfirmed his form and winning attitude as he builds toward a yellow jersey title defense later this summer.
“It will be very exciting to start the Tour here in the Basque Country. It’s really nice to race here,” Vingegaard said. “The team did a great job today. We had two riders in the breakaway, and we really controlled the stage.”
James Knox (Soudal Quick-Step) attacked to second in a late-hour quest for the podium, and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) was third in the fast downhill run to the line.
Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) finished fourth on the stage in a good week for the American with seventh overall.
Behind Vingegaard, there was a real tug-of-war for the remaining podium spots. Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) finished in the front chase group to finish a moral-boosting second, with Izagirre using the time bonuses to hit podium with third and knocked David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) into fourth.
Vingegaard isn’t expected to race again until the Critérium du Dauphiné, but he made it clear what’s on his mind.
“I was able to ride away, I am super happy,” he said. “My next big goal is the Tour de France. I will do the Dauphiné, but the next big goal is the Tour.”
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