While their team-mates were covering the opening phase of the Tour’s decisive stage, the Movistar Team brought a second roster into racing at the 92nd Prueba Villafranca - Clásica de Ordizia, where the riders directed by José Luis Jaimerena rode offensively all the way to the finish.

Marc Soler, present into the eight-man early breakaway covering four of the five climbs to Abaltzisketa at the front, and Enrique Sanz, also in the lead for a few kilometers after the Catalan was caught, left room to an in-form Jesús Herrada (13th), who rode alongside Howson (OGE) and eventual winner Ángel Madrazo (CJR) until the decisive ‘muro’ of Gaintza.

Ion Izagirre went on the attack at that decisive point, overtook Madrazo and also caught Amets Txurruka (CJR), the Caja Rural duo contesting a two-against-one sprint with the local rider, who was close to a fourth victory for the Izagirre saga after three claimed by Gorka (2010-12-14). Izagirre had to settle with the second highest spot on the podium behind Angel Madrazo.