Sixth place for Joel Díaz in Markina-Xemein, where Lucas Guillermo and Iván Polo retired due to physical problems

27ª Bizkaiko Itzulia
Stage2: Markina-Xemein – Markina-Xemein (95,8 km)

British rider Thomas William Smith came out as leader of Markina-Xemein, the finish line of a fast-paced second stage again full of alternatives, in which Joel Díaz from Barcelona took sixth place in the final sprint of the day in the chasing group. Manuel Sanroma from La Mancha was very active in the fight for the breakaway.

The second of the climbs to Gontzugarai once again proved to be fundamental for the resolution of the stage. On its ramps, both Smith and Luis García Martín, who had escaped earlier, definitively consolidated their breakaway. Behind them, a chasing group of around ten riders was formed, in which Díaz was riding.

On this day, however, both Lucas Guillermo from La Rioja, who had been involved in a crash on the first descent of Gontzugarai, and Iván Polo from Pucón, both of whom lost their lives due to physical problems, were forced off the bike because of their hard work, commitment and dedication. Balint Feldhoffer was involved in another crash, in the first kilometres, which affected the rest of the day.