Bert-Jan Lindeman and the other riders of Team LottoNL-Jumbo suffered heavily during the queen stage of the Tour of the Basque Country today. The Dutchman eventually finished 117th.

Joaquim Rodriguez ended up winning the fourth stage. Katusha’s Purito was the fastest in a 12-man sprint in Arrate (Eibar) on top of a first category-climb. Bauke Mollema (Trek Factory Racing) sprinted to a second place, just ahead of Orica-GreenEdge’s Simon Yates.

Sergio Henao (Sky) is still leading the overall. However, the Colombian can’t relax as Rodriguez and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) are on the same time.

“I really suffered today,” said Lindeman to the LottoNL website. “All day long, the racing was on. I wasn’t good enough and finished far in the back. I had hoped to be a little further more to the front, but these are not races I can win normally. For me, it’s good to go deep this week. With a little rest, I will be ready for the Ardennes classics.”

DS Frans Maassen saw his riders in pain today.

“Everyone had to fight. George Bennett tried to follow the first group, but exploded. A good overall is out of sight for him. It’s good that he tries to improve that way.”

The fifth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country is a 155.5-kilometre ride. The peloton first heads from Eibar to the coast. After heading south again, the pack finishes in Aia in the north. Along the way the riders have to tackle seven categorised climbs. The finish is on top of a second-category climb.