Young talent emerges victorious in Basque Country Tour #
The race was held in Amorebieta-Etxano on April 5th, marking another milestone for French cycling.
This victory marks Grégoire’s first time lifting the trophy on the World Tour circuit. His achievement becomes even more significant considering the fact that he follows in the tire tracks of his compatriot, Paul Lapeira, 23, who won the sprint earlier in the Tour.
Triumph amidst tragedy #
However, Grégoire’s victory was not the only event that marked the fifth stage. The racing day was once again marred by a horrifying crash, which involved Spanish cyclist Mikel Landa. This unfortunate incident followed the shocking withdrawals of favorites Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, and Remco Evenepoel in the previous stages due to a severe crash.
Grégoire’s triumph and the unfortunate accidents have reshuffled the general standings, placing the young French cyclist in the promising fifth place, revealing his potential to be a future frontrunner in global cycling competitions.
The aftermath of the crashes #
Post the crashes, the general classification has been turned on its head. Danish cyclist Vingegaard seems to have been the worst hit, suffering a pneumothorax, lung contusion, and fractures to the collarbone and ribs. His dream of clinching a third consecutive Tour de France victory is hanging by a thread.
Landa, who was forced to pull out of the race after his crash, also suffered injuries similar to Evenepoel – a fractured shoulder blade and collarbone. Landa’s teammate, Gil Gelders, also had to withdraw due to a crash.
- Romain Grégoire, first-time winner on the World Tour circuit, at age 21
- Paul Lapeira, another young French cyclist, won a sprint earlier in the tour
- Mikel Landa, Spanish cyclist, forced to withdraw after a severe crash
- Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, and Remco Evenepoel, favorites who had to withdraw due to a crash
- General classification significantly altered due to the crashes and unexpected victories
Looking ahead #
All eyes are now set on the sixth and final stage of the Basque Country Tour around Eibar. This stage features seven categorised climbs, including three first-category ascents that were expected to be the battleground for the tour’s leading contenders.
With the recent upheavals, the final stage is now wide open for potential surprises and last-minute position changes, adding an extra layer of suspense to an already thrilling tour. The French cyclist Kevin Vauquelin is still in a great position, just six seconds behind the yellow jersey holder, Mattias Skjelmose of Denmark.
