PREVIEW | Itzulia Basque Country 2023 stage 5 - Very explosive day with steep climbs to test Vingegaard once again

Preview. Stage 5 of Itzulia Basque Country will be another difficult day in the race. Jonas Vingegaard has solidified his race lead but will have here another important test, in a sharp day with plenty climbs.

In the roads of Amorebieta will be another stage suited to the puncheurs who are preparing for the Ardennes classics. It's another day full of short and explosive ascents, most of them uncategorized but quite meaningful for the day's fatigue build-up. The overall classification is likely to be played out as well, however with the queen stage the following day some riders may be more conservative.

Estimated start and time times for Stage 5: 14:20 - 18:30CET

The stage has 2.9-kilometer climb at 6.9% to open up the day where a strong group should go up the road. Many climbs follow, there will be no true rest. The toughest of the day finishes with 65 kilometers to go, it's 4.3 kilometers at 7.7% (but feature 1.4Km at 11.7%). After that point there are still five climbs - only one of them being categorized - before the final hilltop sequence of the day.

It's an incredibly explosive stage where a lot can happen. Attacks can come from early and there will be the pressure to always need to be well positioned in this kind of terrain. A very tough day mentally, GC riders need to be on their toes.

In the final 9 kilometers there are three hilltops: 900 meters at 9.1%; 600 meters at 9.6% and lastly 1Km at 7%, before another very fast and downhill finish into town. These see their summit with 9.9, 6.9 and 3.9Km to go. All climbs are opportunties to attack. The two first descents are very steep, and the third will be fast and leave the riders with only just under a kilometer of racing to go. A finale for the opportunists.

Prediction Itzulia Basque Country 2023 stage 5:

*** Alex Aranburu, Mauro Schmid
** Omar Fraile, Mattias Skjelmose, Sergio Higuita
* Quinten Hermans, Jonas Vingegaard, Mikel Landa, Enric Mas, Felix Gall, Brandon McNulty

Pick: Mauro Schmid