Radprofi Maximilian Schachmann preserved the chance of the overall victory on the Basque Country Tour. The Irishman Ben Healy won.
The 31-year-old Berliner from the Soudal Quick-Step team finished the main field on the penultimate stage from Urduna to Gernika and unchanged 30 seconds behind the overall rating in the final royal stage on Saturday.
After 172.3 km on a wavy profile of the IRE Ben Healy (EF Education-Easy Post), the day victory on Friday secured 56 km from a six-person escape group 56 km and defended a comfortable lead with a strong solo to the finish.
Lipowitz is third in the overall ranking
Schachmann, who had minor problems in the final phase of the race, had to give the yellow jersey to day winner João Almeida the day before. The Portuguese goes as a clear favorite for the overall victory in the decision day.
The last stage of the Basque Country Tour is also the most demanding. Over 153.4 km with start and finish in Eibar, the driver field has to pass a total of seven mountains, three of them correspond to the 1st category. The shooting star Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is also third (+0: 38) of the overall ranking.