The World champion is heading into the Ardennes classics with form, as Quick-Step took the win in the second stage of the Itzulia Basque Country. Julian Alaphilippe benefited from a strong leadout from Remco Evenepoel to take to the final sprint in front, and taking his first win of the season.
The breakaway included Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA), Ibon Ruiz (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Ibai Azurmendi (Euskaltel-Euskadi). The group never got a big gap, and never seemed to be a threat to the peloton as it lacked some strong riders that were predicted to be on the attack early on.
In the final climb of the day the pace slowed down and the doubts started to come. The peloton was 2 minutes behind with 11 kilometers to go as Ibon Ruiz took off the front after the group failed to collaborate well. The Kern Pharma rider rode solo until the finish almost, as his gap seemed good for the win, but quickly faded in the final kilometers, until he was caught with around 500 meters to go.
Evenepoel led the peloton in the final kilometer for Alaphilippe, who launched his sprint at the entrance of the final straight with a slight uphill dash for the line which proved itself successful, as the Frenchman took the win in front of Fabien Doubey and Quinten Hermans.
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