Video - Ben Healy hits out early on sodden day in Basque Country

Ben Healy attacked early in a small, but very strong, group on the final day at Itzulia Basque Country in pouring rain (Photo: Luis Angel Gomez-SCA-Cor Vos)

Ben Healy's hopes of enjoying a strong Itzulia Basque Country, aiming for general classification and a stage win, may have been dealt a major blow before the race even began, but that wasn't enough to temper his aggressive style of racing.

In a repeat of his performance of 12 months ago, though without gaining another stage victory, the EF Education-EasyPost rider has been on the attack over the past three days, making his move off the front especially early today.

Having crashed into a member of the public at 50kmph during his recon ride for the opening stage TT, Healy said he was glad he was able to start the race. But he stressed he would have to see how he healed from his injuries.

On the basis of his performances over the past three days, it appears he has managed to recover, though was still a way off his usual level. But having been up the road for the past three days, this block of racing should aid his preparation for the Ardennes classics.

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The first climb of six today - the 4.6km Alto de Asentzio averaging 7.6 per cent - began almost immediately after the start, with Healy using it as launch pad to attack, alongside Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

They had about 1:30 by the time they raced onto the next climb, a cat 2 crested 34km into the 135.2km stage, with 3,000m of climbing. They were later joined by Juanpe López (Movistar) and Peter Øxenberg (Ineos Grenadiers). They made the juncture on third climb, 50km into the race.

Behind them, a group of 30 riders managed to get clear of the bunch, setting off in pursuit of the five leaders. The best placed of them overall was Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), who began the day 11th some 5:39 down on race leader Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team).

The lead group eventually dropped to two - Healy and Skjelmose - and that duo was not caught by the large chasing group until they raced onto the final climb, with 24km to go. As that climb progressed, it was Andrew August (Ineos Grenadiers) who attacked, eventually going clear solo to win.

The American, still aged just 20, took the stage 16 seconds up on Raúl García Pierna (Movistar Team), with the large front group blowing to pieces on the final climb.

Healy had a strong final section of the stage, considering he had been up the road for well over 100km, taking 11th place, 1:38 down on the winner.

Jamie Meehan (Cofidis) was 50th on the stage, at 18:47, and now has another very tough race in his legs, in what is his neo pro season. The Donegal rider performed especially well on Thursday's stage 4.

His team mate, Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), won from the breakaway that day and Meehan climbed in the yellow jersey group, until it came down to about 25 riders on the final climb.

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Today, though Seixas was left exposed on the stage, and fell more than three minutes down on Johannessen at one point, he wrapped up the overall victory, having won three stages along the way.

He finished in 21st today, and though he was over three minutes down on Johannessen on the line, he took the final yellow jersey by 2:30 from Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe). Johannessen's breakaway efforts saw him move up eight places to 3rd overall, though he was still 2:33 down on Seixas.

Healy, who won the combativity award yesterday, was 30th overall at 39:48. Meehan, who was on team duties this week, finished in 54th, just over one hour down.

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