PREVIEW | Itzulia Basque Country 2024 stage 2 - After strong time-trial, can Ethan Hayter win once again World Tour?

After a thrilling start to Itzulia Basque Country, we've got Primoz Roglic in the race lead. Stage 2 of the Basque race should be a day for the sprinters and among the favourites are Ethan Hayter and Alex Aranburu, within a modest field.

Stage 2 of the Basque race is one that certainly describes quite well the region. It is a stage for the sprinters, likely, but it lacks flat roads throughout the day in all honesty. It is a 160-kilometer day with 2300 meters of climbing, where there is only one categorized ascent right at the start of the day.

Throughout the day the riders find constant rolling roads. Never any big climb, but the fatigue will be building up. The entire stage takes place inside France actually and perhaps that is why it lacks the big climbs!

Either ways a sprint is likely, among those who can climb surely, as the final kilometers feature a few hilltops. The final kilometers are no exception, the riders find a technical area into the 4-kilometer to go area, the descent means that from beforehand there will be a big fight for positioning.

The final 2.2 kilometers then see two small rises. One is based inside the final kilometer already which will not be technical but gives opportunity for a possible late attack; and will also make life harder for the sprinters.

The Weather

There will be growing wind from the south. A difficult day on the bike due to the tension that will likely be present. The rolling roads are not ideal for echelons, but we will have some crosswinds in the final kilometers and other sections throughout the stage. I don't expect anything dramatic however. The final sprint should largely be anticipated by relative crosswinds.

The Favourites

Ethan Hayter - It's been almost a year since Hayter has won, it was last at the Tour de Romandie last year. His three most recent wins are all at World Tour level in fact, all in races such as this. The Briton is a quality sprinter and a quality climber. Today in the TT he had superb legs and so form must be there too. His grand problem is a struggle with positioning... But in a rather hilly day with a modest sprinter field, there is a good chance that INEOS can do a good work positioning him, and if he's in position he certainly can take the win on the day.

Alex Aranburu - Aranburu has become more of a puncheur than a sprinter in recent years, but this finale is suited to a man like him. He's won in this race before and he can do it again; Movistar have a strong set of puncheurs and multiple cards to tackle this finale as attackers or a leadout. Aranburu can benefit from that, and the tougher the finale is the better for him.

Orluis Aular - On the more sprinter aspect we've got Orluis Aular, breakthrough of last year's Vuelta a España, he may pack a bit more punch in a sprint but not have climbing legs as good. The Caja Rural rider can make for his and the team's season by winning here though, there is a certain motivation that the previous two riders do not have. A good mix, the Venezuelan can certainly take the cake on a sprint like this I would not be shocked.

We've got other riders who could be quite good in a sprint like this, a modest field opens up the doors for many riders who wouldn't ordinarily have that chance. Davide De Pretto, Andrea Bagioli, Natnael Tesfatsion, Stefano Oldani, Nikias Arndt, Vito Braet Ide Schelling, Emils Liepins, Quinten Hermans and Aaron Gate are definitely noteworthy names. William Lecerf Junior, the flyweight climbers can also sprint and I'm interested to see what he can do if he's given the opportunity.

This is a finale where some of the GC riders may want to feature. Nowadays the climbers can also sprint, and so don't be surprised to see Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic, Mattias Skjelmose, Kévin Vauquelin or Pello Bilbao try to sneak in some bonifications or even who knows... A stage win, definitely possible if the day is rough or echelons break the group up into bits.

Of course, some of these riders can also win via a late attack. Although very difficult, the finale does open up possibilities for that to happen taking into consideration the slight uphill gradients. Besides all these men we could have some explosive classics riders who can certainly surprise such as Max Schachmann, Matteo Sobrero, Archie Ryan, Romain Grégoire and Mathieu Burgaudeau.

Prediction Itzulia Basque Country 2024 stage 2:

*** Ethan Hayter, Orluis Aular
** Ide Schelling, Emils Liepins, Alex Aranburu
* Vito Braet, Natnael Tesfatsion, Davide de Pretto, Quinten Hermans, Remco Evenepoel, William Lecerf Junior, Kevin Vauquelin, Primoz Roglic Pello Bilbao, Mattias Skjelmose, Max Schachmann

Pick: Ethan Hayter