Bayern Rundfahrt recap

Peio Bilbao, Koldo Fernández, Mikel Landa, Rubén Pérez, Alan Pérez, Amets Txurruka and Pablo Urtasun are at the moment taking part in the five-day Bayern Rundfahrt concurrently with Antón, Nieve and co. performing heroics in Italy. There's plenty of fire-power in that seven-man team, but it's been everything but a successful race so far. Koldo, looking to get back into the sway of things after his first half of the season was cut short by crashes and injuries, looked to get into the mix on day one but lost his way and freewheeled across the line in 21st place. Debutant Bilbao found the pace a shock to the system and finished 2:39 down. Day two was better courtesy of Koldo's encouraging eighth and A Pérez's tenth, while the team went missing when the decisive splits formed over the hilly parcours of stage 3 between Bad Gögging and Aicbach. Not a single orange-clad rider (including the CCC Polsat-Polkowice guys by the way) made it into the break, meaning Urtasun, Koldo, A and R Pérez and Landa all finished inside the bunch at a full 5:18. Txurruka decided to abandon, unknown for what reason, while the chilly conditions hampered young Bilbao on his way to a 91st place finish at 12:53. Today's stage four 26km ITT wasn't particularly suited to the riders, and the results prove that. A Pérez was top Euskaltel rider in 35th at 2:29, whilst Koldo ended up 45th at 2:46. Bilbao impressed with 55th at just 2:58, Urtasun was 60th at 3:06, R Pérez 91st at 4:08 and Landa 100th at 4:29. Going into the last stage, A Pérez is top ranked overall at 31st, a disappointing 6:49 in arrears.