“It was an extremely complicated day" - Carlos Rodriguez ends Itzulia Basque Country on a high with stage win

After an up-and-down race, Carlos Rodriguez showed his best legs of the season so far on the final stage of Itzulia Basque Country 2024, taking the stage win and moving up to second overall.

“It was an extremely complicated day, particularly for me," Rodriguez, who attacked clear on the final climb with eventual overall winner, Juan Ayuso, reflected in his post-stage interview. "Ayuso was extraordinarily strong today."

Both Ayuso and Rodriguez had goals to work towards and the Spanish pair worked well together to ensure a stage win and the overall victory for the duo by the time they crossed the finish line.

"It was planned [Ayuso gifting him the stage win], but we worked together. I’m very grateful for what the team did for me today and of course we will celebrate it tonight," the INEOS Grenadiers star concludes. "I wasn’t one of the great favourites here so it’s a privilege to be up here, I just had to give as much as I possibly could as part of a strong team.”