ProTeam Thompson battles to top ten in Itzulia Basque Country

The stage unfolded at a consistently high intensity, particularly in its opening phase, where repeated attacks delayed the formation of a breakaway. Thompson remained actively involved throughout, responding to moves as the peloton resisted allowing any group to establish an advantage. After approximately 70 kilometers of sustained aggression, a select group succeeded in going clear, with Thompson among those to make the move.

Within the breakaway, cooperation was essential to maintain the gap, and the pace remained demanding over a challenging parcours. Thompson contributed effectively while managing his resources, ensuring he remained competitive as the race approached its concluding section.

As the stage entered its final kilometers, the dynamic shifted, with the strongest riders in the group contesting the outcome. Thompson continued to perform at a high level, ultimately finishing tenth after close to 90 kilometers at the front of the race.

After the finish, Thompson reflected with mixed feelings on his performance: “I’m ending the stage with a bit of mixed feelings. I’m very aware of how rare these opportunities are to race for the win in a WorldTour race so I am a bit gutted not to get a better result from it. But I also need to be realistic. It was a big group with strong riders.”

Tomorrow’s fourth stage in Itzulia Basque Country includes a 167.2 km long race in and around Galdakao.

Photo: PhotoNews