UAE Team Emirates-XRG claim second place on stage 3 of Itzulia Basque Country

Igor Arrieta has ridden to second place on stage 3 for UAE Team Emirates-XRG during a thrilling finale at Itzulia Basque Country,

On a punchy uphill finish in Basauri, the young Basque native lost out to the fast finisher Axel Laurance of Ineos Grenadiers.

With all eyes on the stage victory, it had been a big battle just to get into the select group of riders that made its way off the front, but it was a fight that Arrieta would not let go of.

Once off the front, Arrieta worked diligently to extend the breakaway’s advantage. That gave the break an advantage of a minute and a half heading into the penultimate climb of the day, which was a healthy gap but one that meant the riders would need to work well to reach the finish before the peloton.

As such, on that penultimate climb of Bikotx Gane, Arrieta pressed ahead alongside seven other riders, including Laurance, the eventual stage winner. These riders continued their charge towards the finish, and their work increased the front group’s advantage over the peloton to two minutes on the last climb of the stage.

Using his local knowledge, Arrieta pressed on over the summit of that final climb, known as the Sarasola, and it was only Laurance that could follow the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider’s wheel. Together, they created a gap over their breakaway companions, and as they headed towards the final 20km, they worked in unison to ensure they would contest the stage victory between them.

Once in sight of the finish town, Arrieta looked to conserve his energy as best possible, in the knowledge that Laurance packed the strongest punch for the uphill finish to come. Sensing this disadvantage, it was Arrieta who first opened up his kick for the line in Basauri, hoping to dislodge the Frenchman from his wheel.

But it was not to be for Arrieta, who was passed by Laurance with only 75m of the day remaining. Exhausted as he crossed the line, the Spaniard was sad to miss out on the victory, but his efforts were rewarded with the combativity prize and a spot on the day’s podium.