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Some words from Grégoire, the day’s stage winner: “It’s a colossal relief. I really had to hunt hard for this, it was very fast all day long.”
“I had a great leadout from [Groupama-FDJ teammate] Quentin [Pacher], I was in the perfect position with 500 metres to go. He led me out right away. There was a rider ahead who had a bit of a gap so I suffered a lot to get to the finish, and I wasn’t sure I had won which was very stressful for a couple of minutes.”
“It’s my first WorldTour win and that really counts for something. I’m delighted.”
After a strong individual and collective defense of his inherited yellow jersey, Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) remains the race leader. Schachmann, though, is just two seconds back on GC thanks to his third place on the stage.
Second was Orluis Aular (Caja Rural-SegurosRGA), with Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) in third.
Confirmed: Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) wins stage 5 of Itzulia Basque Country from Vitoria to Amorebieta-Etxano
Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) announced as winner but that was a very, very close call.
Six riders across the road at least coming over the line so close together.
And in a close sprint for the line, the winner is…
But Schachmann is closing in fast
One last turn and and Ineos Carlos Rodriguze has a bit of a gap.
Del Toro goes from long with Carlos Rodriguez following
A technical urban finish with two corners to come
Into the last kilometre now w Shachmann leading again.
No clear control as so few riders left.
2 kilometres to go
The attack by a Kern Pharma rider was brought back almost before it began.
Only 20-25 riders in the front group now.
McNulty caught and another attack goes.
McNulty is still ahead as they head into a tunnel at the top of a last little drag.
A former leader in the Itzulia Basque Country, too, the 2022 race was where McNulty briefly took the top spot.
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