A day of pure Bidasoa Itzulia with presence in the breakaways, protagonism in Jaizkibel and good positions at the finish line
48º Bidasoa Itzulia
Stage 2: Hendaya – Hondarribia (119,4 km)
The climb to Jaizkibel emerged as the hot point of the second part of the Tour of Bidasoa and so it was, although the resolution of the partial came on the descent and not in a climb that nevertheless did select a lot of the race. The victory went to the British rider Harrison Wood, an old acquaintance for the Contador Foundation structures, who stood out in the descent of the mythical Gipuzkoa mountain in a group that ended up being about twenty riders. Among them, four riders of the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team, with Ramón Fernández and David Domínguez finishing fourth and fifth and Fernando Tercero and Davide Piganzoli also present.
At the base of the climb Italian Gabriele Raccagni and Iñaki Guaresti were the last daring of a long list of adventurers who sought the breakaway throughout the day in a similar script to Thursday: many breakaway attempts without anyone managing to open a substantial gap. Ramón Fernández had also been involved in another acceleration a few kilometres earlier. In Jaizkibel, many attacks, with the leader being the protagonist and with Fernando Tercero and Davide Piganzoli riding in the vanguard. The Italian would pass first at the summit.
#BidasoaItzulia. Tras un nuevo reagrupamiento del pelotón, movimiento protagonizado por nuestro Gabriele Raccagni e Iñaki Guaresti (57). La pareja, con 1’00” de margen, se encamina a la subida a Jaizkibel.
[📽️ @BidasoaItzulia] #EOLOKOMETACyclingTeam #EquipoSub23 #Etapa2 pic.twitter.com/IStgNiJUZX— FundContadorTeam (@FundContaTeam) May 6, 2022
“It was a good day. Tough, but nice. We had to keep Fernando and Piga well placed, we had to fight a lot for the best position to face Jaizkibel. After the work, we had to suffer as much as possible to be able to stay in front. On the descent we gave a hand to try to catch Wood, but he went down very fast, and in the sprint both David and I got involved to achieve two good final positions”, explains Fernández.
The Bidasoa Itzulia faces its final stage this Saturday with a very tough and demanding proposal without excessive mileage. There will be just over 77 kilometres starting and finishing at the Paseo de Colón in Irún, although there will be five climbs. The last one, Erlaitz, has significant gradients and the subsequent downhill section is not easy. An invitation to go on the offensive from the opening flag in which Alejandro Franco takes the lead in a general classification in which Fernando Tercero is fourth, 12 seconds behind, and Davide Piganzoli, the new leader of the mountains, is sixth, 16 seconds behind. Ramón Fernández is 16th, 44 seconds behind.
[📷 @uxue_photo (1)]
