Pello Bilbao: "All my victories were special, but this one…"

Bahrain - Victorious have had a mixed day as they lost one of their riders in Alejandro Osorio, however on the road Pello Bilbao managed to bring in success for the team. Pello Bilbao won the third stage of Itzulia Basque Country in what was an impressive win.

“All my victories were special, but this one… I had to wait a long time for this one. I was very close last year. Now I could happily wait it out. This is a great win for me, my wife Andrea and my baby coming soon," Bilbao said after the finish. The third stage of the race featured several steep climbs, which Bilbao took advantage of to attack afterwards as the peloton was split to pieces. The Basque climber wasn't successful in his attacks, however he still had the legs to succeed in the final sprint.

“Luckily I felt good. When I saw Evenepoel checking the group, I knew I had to get in the wheel of Alaphilippe. That was my last chance, even though I wasn't sure I could beat him," Bilbao completed. Good race reading has earned Bilbao his first World Tour win since the 2019 Giro d'Italia, Bilbao took advantage of the early sprint by Julian Alaphilippe to go over him in the final meters and take the stage win.

Bilbao is now sitting fifth in the overall classification 19 seconds behind Primoz Roglic. He will now be focusing on the GC, however it is possible to take another stage win under the right circumstances.