Fiorelli finishes fifth in final stage of Itzulia Basque Country

# Fiorelli Secures Fifth Place in Challenging Itzulia Basque Country Finale

In a dramatic finale to the Itzulia Basque Country, Filippo Fiorelli of Team Visma | Lease a Bike finished strong, taking fifth place under dreary, rainy conditions. The final stage saw an early surge from a formidable group of thirty riders, including four from the Dutch team, who launched their attack during the day’s second climb.

Fiorelli showcased his endurance by maintaining a position among the strongest competitors throughout the race before sprinting to an impressive fifth-place finish.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, race coach Frans Maassen remarked, “We rode a strong race today. We wanted to fight for the stage win and had several riders in the breakaway. Filippo showed his strength today and was able to stay in contention for victory for a long time. We are very pleased with that.”

However, not all was seamless for the team. Ben Tulett, who had been in excellent form earlier in the event, was forced to withdraw due to a crash earlier in the week. Maassen acknowledged this setback, stating, “It was better for Ben not to start today. It’s a shame because he was in very good form and showed himself at the front throughout the week. Hopefully, he can recover well ahead of the Ardennes Classics.”

### Stage 6 Results (Top Fives)

1. **Andrew August** (INEOS Grenadiers) — 03:29:35
2. **Raúl García Pierna** (Movistar Team) — +00:00:16
3. **Frank van den Broek** (Team Picnic PostNL) — +00:00:34
4. **Filippo Fiorelli** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) — +00:01:07
30. **Bruno Amirail** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) — +00:07:25

Fiorelli’s strong showing wraps up an eventful race with challenges and triumphs, positioning him favorably as he gears up for upcoming competitions.