Gómez in breakaway and Sevilla in top-10 with Fabbro’s help in the Getxo Circuit

In the preview Spanish sports director Jesús Hernández had said: “At the Getxo Circuit, we need to go on the attack…” Said and done: at the start from Bilbao (postponed from the original schedule, resulting in a shortened route of 171.5 km) Germán Gómez went away with six other riders. On the climbs of Akarlanda and the first of two Pike ascents, the leading group thinned out leaving only the young Colombian from Team Polti Kometa alongside Garofoli (Astana) and Aznar (Kern).

The trio was caught with 50 km still to go. There, a new race began: several attack attempts were closed down, Juanpe Lopez (Lidl Trek) crashed on a descent, and about twenty riders reached the 700 meters of the Arkotxa wall. The winning move came from local hero Barrenetxea (Movistar) but just a few meters back a great Diego Sevilla, boosted by the KOM jersey won in Burgos, finished in 6th place. Alongside him in the top group was Matteo Fabbro, who finished 13th.

Sevilla: “We raced in extreme heat conditions, given the typical humidity of the Basque Country, but as you saw during the week my feelings were excellent. Sending Germán on an early break allowed us to stay well-hidden in the peloton and to have two riders up front in the finale. I spoke with Fabbro and he was exceptional, responding to every opponent’s attack. I had to limit myself to following him, then in the long sprint on the final ramp I gave it my all. I lacked a bit of strength in the last 150 meters, but I can only be happy.”

Gómez: “I managed to make the breakaway on a challenging course under August heat (40 degrees) and then we delivered an important team performance. A great result, I would say!”

Hernández: “Really excellent attitude from our guys, which translated into results. Well done to Matteo for the teamwork and he nearly made the top-10 himself. A more than positive Sunday.”