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Almeida claims Tour of the Basque Country with stage six triumph / Photo: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT - AFP
Almeida claims Tour of the Basque Country with stage six triumph
Joao Almeida claimed Tour of the Basque Country victory on Saturday, also winning stage six as he beat out Enric Mas in a sprint finish.
The Portuguese UAE Team Emirates rider started the day with a 30-second lead on Soudal–Quick-Step's Max Schachmann, who came third overall, behind Mas, who fought his way to second.
"It was incredible to win that last stage, my team worked so hard for me," said Almeida.
"It was a very good race for me in every way. We played all our cards and we played them well.
"To be able to win like this was the perfect way to finish what's been a great race for me so I'm really, really happy."
In the gruelling sixth and final stage, beginning and ending in Eibar, riders faced eight categorised climbs across 153.6 kilometres.
Ben Healy attacked to go solo for the second day running after winning stage five on Friday, but he was caught by the chase group including Almeida and Mas.
Inside the final 20 kilometres Mattias Skjelmose was Almeida's closest contender in the general classification standings until he came a cropper on a slippery descent, falling off his bike in the Basque drizzle.
Movistar's Mas and Almeida dropped Healy in the final kilometres before competing for the day's victory.
Mas moved up seven places in the general classification, coming in one minute 52 seconds behind Almeida overall, and edging out Schachmann by just seven seconds.
Almeida stayed on Mas' wheel before passing him with 400 metres remaining and sprinting to the finish.
C.Weber--BlnAP
