Philip Deignan has had a very good week in the colours of Team Sky at the Volta A Pais Vasco. The Irishman has logged some quality miles on brutally hard terrain and that should set him up for the forthcoming races. His programme is not yet known but after this week, a start at the Tour de Romandie or Giro are possible.
By Brian Canty
Dan Martin was listed as a non-finisher in today’s penultimate stage of the Volta A Pais Vasco on a day where Philip Deignan’s teammate Sergio Henao took custody of the race leader’s yellow jersey.
Martin said before the race that he didn’t want to be emptying his tank if it means he risks his chances for the Ardennes Classics and it seems he pulled out as precaution as opposed to anything more serious.
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It is understood that he is not sick and just came into the race a little fatigued after a difficult Volta A Catalunya.
Today was a brutal stage which started and finished in Eibar and ended on a category one summit which changed the whole complexion of the race.
There were several crashes along the way that claimed some big names – overnight race leader Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) included and it was towards the 60-kilometre to go mark where Martin called it a day, clearly with one eye on the aforementioned Ardennes.
He wasn’t alone and just some of the others who abandoned on a wretched day for racing were Jelle Vanendert, Jan Bakelandts, Vasil Kiryienka, Carter Jones, Pirmin Lang and Sindre Skjoestad Lunke, respectively.
The aforementioned Henao started the day four seconds adrift of Kelderman but the latter lost over a minute which amazingly, saw him drop down to eighth overall.
He now trails by 1’07” going into tomorrow’s final stage.
One had to feel for Kelderman as he battled gamely to stay in touch with those closest to him on general classification.
His teammates did a sterling job in the early part of the race after a break of 24 was allowed up the road but as expected, they were not with him when it mattered most.
He was isolated with two of the eight climbs remaining and try as he might, he couldn’t chase everything.
With over 20 riders within a minute of him starting out today, it played perfectly into the hands of those around him – whom Team Sky had Henao and Mikel Landa just some of those who really took advantage.
Tuesday’s stage winner Landa struck out early on to put the leader under pressure and that had the desired effect, drawing Kelderman out so Henao and others could counter.
Landa and Kelderman would eventually cross the line together and Landa dropped from third to 11th overall.
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Diego Rosa won the stage for the biggest win of his career, the Astana rider crossing the line with over three minutes to spare on runner-up Henao.
But because the Italian was over 14 minutes down starting the stage he was allowed plenty slack to go up the road without fear of a concerted chase.
It sets things up nicely for tomorrow’s concluding stage which is a 16-kilometre time-trial.
It’s not so straight-forward mind, and the climb reaches 600 metres around the halfway mark.
Kelderman is going to claw back some of the time he lost today but not enough to challenge the podium.
As things stand it’s Henao from Alberto Contador (at six seconds) and Thibaut Pinot a further four seconds back.
But Samuel Sanchez (BMC Racing Team) in fifth at 31 seconds could sneak his way in there yet.
Philip Deignan is 37:10 down overall in 64th after losing over 16 minutes yesterday.
It’s been a good week of racing for him though and he has put himself in the frame for either the Giro d’Italia or Tour de Romandie in the coming weeks.
Today, we was with the group for long stretches before tailing off late on.
Upwards of 30 riders didn't finish the stage - with plenty contenders for the Ardennes among the non-finishers.
Stage 5, Volta A Pais Vasco, Eibar-Eibar, 159km
1 Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana
2 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky at 0:03:13
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff at s/t
4 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 0:03:15
5 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ at s/t
6 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing at s/t
7 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at s/t
8 Lawson Craddock (USA) Cannondale at s/t
9 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida at s/t
10 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data at s/t
66 Philip Deignan (IRL) Team Sky @16:40
DNF Dan Martin (IRL) Etixx-QuickStep
General Classification
1 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky 22:15:24
2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff Team 0:00:06
3 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:00:10
4 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:12
5 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:00:31
6 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:38
7 Lawson Craddock (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:01:00
8 Wilco Kelderman 0:01:07
9 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre - Merida 0:01:09
10 Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) FDJ 0:01:11
64 Philip Deignan (IRL) Team Sky @37:10
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