Leaving the best of his abilities on the road, Ion Izagirre rode carefully and fearless during the Queen stage of the 2015 Tour de Pologne - 174km in and around Bukovina, with no less than twelve climbs, eight of them categorized - to keep his chances well alive before the TT showdown - 25km in Kraków on Saturday - where he will start as sixth, 14" behind Sergio Henao (SKY). The Colombian crowned attacking tactics from the British squad to take over the leader's jersey, tied with Ulissi (LAM).

Bearing every single move in a high-pace favourites' group during the final 15km, and even taking the front of it himself for the last 1.5km, Henao having taken off for the win prior, the Basque allrounder finished 8th on the day and will take on the final challenge again - two consecutive runner-up finishes in Pologne already on his palmares - with time deficits only on the lead duo, as well as 4" to former leader Bart De Clercq (LTS) and 3" to Davide Formolo (TCG).

Ben Hermans (BMC), TT specialist and tied with Izagirre; Aru (AST), 3" behind the Spaniard; Riblon (ALM), 5" down on the Ormaiztegi-based rider; Nieve (SKY), 8" down; and Zakarin (KAT), winner in Romandie via the final time trial and 13" behind Izagirre, complete an exciting overall top-ten before the last day of racing.