Rafal Majka advanced to 13th in the GC on the penultimate stage of País Vasco featuring a gruesome ramp with a maximum gradient of 28 percent. Oliver Zaugg crashed hard at high speed and has suffered skin wounds. Fortunately, medical examinations at the hospital in San Sebastián revealed no major injuries.
 
Tinkoff-Saxo’s Rafal Majka advanced to 13th place in the GC of Vuelta al País Vasco after stage 5, which was won by breakaway rider Mikel Landa (AST) on top of Alto de Aia featuring percentages above 25. Majka finished 26 seconds behind race leader Sergio Henao (SKY) and is now 56 seconds down on the Colombian.
 
“I’m pleased with the effort from the guys, who gave all they had. Rafal was a bit better than yesterday, but he was not feeling super duper. With a finishing climb like the one we had today it really shows, if you don’t have the legs. Rafal obviously has good legs, but he’s not in top form and with the competition and the level we have here in País Vasco, you will see time gaps, when everybody goes full throttle on a 25 percent gradient”, says Sean Yates.

Tinkoff-Saxo had both Chris Anker Sørensen and Bruno Pires in the long breakaway of stage 5 to the top of Aia. However, on the penultimate ascent of Alto de Aia, the group fragmented and Tinkoff-Saxo didn’t make the cut into the front part of the breakaway with the eventual stage winner Mikel Landa.
 
“Bruno pulled hard at the front of the big breakaway, which contained 32 riders at some point. Chris Anker felt good and fancied his chances, but on the steepest sections the likes of Danielson and Landa pulled away from him. However, it shows that Chris is improving shape wise”, notes Sean Yates before the final stage tomorrow:
 
“We got the big mountain time trial coming up and with the high level here in País Vasco, there’s no room for error or lack of top form. All the riders within the top 15 can make it into the top 5, so there’s a chance for Rafal to improve his position”.
 
Unfortunately, Oliver Zaugg crashed hard during a fast descent on the stage. He was brought to the hospital in San Sebastián, where the scans revealed no internal injuries or fractures.
 
He is fully conscious but he has incurred skin wounds on his face, left shoulder as well as both elbows and knees.
 
As a precaution, he will remain under observation in the hospital for the next 24 hours.