BARCELONA, 4 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The cyclist Ide Schelling (BORA-hansgrohe) won the second stage of Itzulia on Tuesday, disputed between Viana and Leitza over 193.8 kilometers, with the Dutchman leading the final stretch to give his rivals no choice, like a Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team) fourth, and become the new leader of the Basque round.
The fast, short and technical descent to the finish line from the Arkiskil ridge had the peloton lining up, and the final roundabout and hairpin left-hander was the key; Schelling passed through it first and there was no longer any room for anyone to dispute his head.
The 25-year-old Dutchman achieved his first victory in the WorldTour after coming close to doing so in the last Volta a Catalunya –third twice and fourth once– and celebrated it in style, especially after standing out in his statements just win the danger of the end.
The meta image was unusual to say the least. Although it is true that the asphalt was perfect, the narrowness of the finish made the bunch of favorites enter a row of two or three units maximum, without giving rise to an open fight.
And Schelling benefited from this, placing better than anyone else to beat Matteo Sobrero (Team Jayco AlUla), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) and Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team). The one from Ezkio-Itsaso was the one who moved the corral on the last descent, accelerating and causing tension. He managed a margin but was finally neutralized and risked, without luck, the final sprint.
Previously, the Catalan David de la Cruz (Astana) also tried to break the race, in the final part of the second and last ascent to Arkiskil, and especially Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) who tested it from afar, attacking 47 kilometers from the finish line on the ramps of the port of Saldias.
In the end he was neutralized, allowing himself to be caught, at 18 from the finish line when he saw that no fellow escapee (of the survivors) joined him with forces. But the Basque rider gained a few seconds in this stage that allows him to improve in the provisional general standings, fourth, 7 seconds behind the new leader.
After this trap stage, in which men from the general classification such as Enric Mas (Movistar Team) left 11 seconds at the finish line due to one of those cuts in the main peloton, Ide Schelling is the new leader by hanging, far from the finish line, previous leader Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers).
–CLASSIFICATIONS.
-Stage.
1. Ide Schelling (NED/BORA-hansgrohe) 4:53:33.
2. Matteo Sobrero (ITA/Team Jayco AlUla) mt
3. David Gaudu (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) mt
4. ALEX ARANBURU (ESP/Movistar Team) m.t.
5. Brandon McNulty (USA/UAE Team Emirates) m.t.
-General.
1. Ide Schelling (NED/BORA-hansgrohe) 4:53:33.
2. Matteo Sobrero (ITA/Team Jayco AlUla) at 4.
3. David Gaudu (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) 6.
4. MIKEL LANDA (ESP/Bahrain-Victorious) 7.
5. Jonas Vingegaard (DIN/Jumbo-Visma) 8.
