"When I was alone I saw myself winning", Ibon Ruiz rues near-miss at Itzulia

Today's opening stage of the Itzulia Basque Country almost saw a big surprise, as Equipo Kern Pharma's Ibon Ruiz almost took an impressive solo win after making a move off the day's breakaway, but being caught almost in sight of the line.

"I feel helpless to see the win so close and not getting it. It would've been something incredible for me and for Equipo Kern Pharma," Ruiz said after the stage. He was a part of the four-man breakaway that set off early in the day, that seemed to be under control of the peloton all-stage long. In the final categorized climb of the day the gap went out as there was a lull in the peloton, and in front the disorganization saw the 23-year old alone in front with 13 kilometers to go, only to be reeled in inside the final kilometer after seeing his two-minute gap fade away quickly upon the fierce chase of the peloton.

"When we took to the start I didn't think the breakaway could make it, but as the kilometers passed that thought was changing and when I was alone I saw myself winning. I remembered the team, my family, my partner, the Basque fans... There were many emotions and effort, and I'm happy with the performance and the mountain's classification jersey," he concluded.

Despite the disappointment, Ruiz has stepped onto the podium as the new leader of the mountain's classification, in which he'll likely focus on in the next few days, and will have the pleasure to wear tomorrow.