An untimely puncture just 4km from the finish has put an end to Frank Schleck's GC hopes in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. With the Luxembourger losing almost three minutes due to the incident, it is now left to Robert Kiserlovski to defend the Trek colours in the Spanish race.

In the Vuelta al Pais Vasco the stages are always relentless. The terrain is hilly, the roads narrow, and it makes for harsh racing. Crashes and punctures are always a part of cycling, and when you add in the undulating parcours of the Basque Country, it’s a mixture that can make or break a race.

Fränk Schleck was a victim of such an untimely puncture, and it spelled the end to his GC hopes as he rolled across the line with a group almost three minutes behind.  

“It was another race with bad luck,” said Fränk Schleck. “I was with the top 20 riders over the last climb, and then punctured with four kilometers to go. There was no chance to come back to the front. What can you do? The team worked hard again all day, and then this. It’s okay. We still have Robert [Kiserlovski] in the front, but for me, I will have to look at a possible stage win.”

Matthew Busche was caught up in a crash around 40 kilometers to go but was able to dust himself off and continue and Haimar Zubeldia punctured his front wheel on a tricky downhill and narrowly missed crashing.

However, all was not bad for the team as Bob Jungels was part of the early move, joining a seven-rider breakaway inside the first 20 kilometers. The leading group would hold onto their advantage until with 20 kilometers remaining Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) accelerated on a climb and exploded the break. Two riders were able to muster enough strength to go with Martin, but Jungels would be swept up by the peloton with the remaining beaten escapees. 

“It’s frustrating. My legs felt blocked today,” said a disappointed Jungels. “I had such good legs at Paris-Nice and today…I could not go when [Tony} Martin went, I just had nothing left. I hope that things will improve as the race goes on, but sometimes that is just how things are - that’s racing.”

“We tried to have one in the breakaway, that was good, but Bob did not have the same legs as a few weeks ago,” agreed director Kim Andersen. “It was still nice that he was there; it was a really strong group. If that group could not go to the end, nobody can. It’s too bad that Bob did not have the legs today, but it was a nice try. Chapeau.”

In the end Tony Martin would solo to the win, and a diminished peloton, after the hilly day, sprinted in for second place 30 seconds later. There were no changes to the top of the GC, and Robrt Kiserlovski still holds onto 22nd place after finishing safely in the front group. However, Fränk Schleck fell to 34th place (+3'25") and a top GC result now rests solely on the shoulders of Kiserlovski.

“Behind they get over the last climb, the best ones together with Robert and Fränk, and then a puncture,” continued Andersen, explaining the bad luck the team experienced once again. “No cars were there, no Mavic car, and it’s over. Now we just have Kiserlovski up there, and Fränk just needs to focus on his good shape and try to motivate and go for a stage win."