Izagirre moves up on final day + Tour

Ion Izagirre moved up from eighth to seventh on today's concluding stage in the Tour of Poland, thus securing the team some vital WorldTour points.

The last stage, a 131km ride in and around Krákow, was wholly uninteresting from an orange point of view, as it was a day for the sprinters to shine. Argos-Shimano's Teutonic speedster John Degenkolb duly delivered, besting impressive veteran Matthew Hayman and team colleague Ben Swift. Izagirre had no trouble staying with the pack, crossing the line in 21st.

"I'm very pleased with my result", he told www.fundacioneuskadi.com upon crossing the line. "I haven't competed since the Giro d'Italia, so to return in this manner is satisfying. Well, I did the national champs (where he finished 35th), but that's only one day. So to return in a week-long WorldTour stage race and finish seventh overall makes me content. The season is turning out well for me. I felt good in Tirreno-Adriatico, I was on-song in the Classics, and I came around in the Giro. Do to a good Giro was the goal in the first part of the season and it was a success, the stage-win included", he said, adding that he'll line-up in the Ordizia and Getxo classics next.

He was once again pretty much on his own though, as none of his team-mates managed to go the distance. Antón came in half a minute in arrears, while Sicard, who's rumoured to be on the move after this season, continues to jo-jo from the solid to the lacklustre. The Frenchman came in 90 seconds back, finishing the race in 39th.

Adrián Sáez posted a DNF.

Stage seven results:

• (1, John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano), 2:50:32)
• 21, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
• 66, Juan José Oroz, 0:28
• 72, Igor Antón, 0:30
• 73, Miguel Minguez, s.t.
• 112, Romain Sicard, 1:29

Final general classification:

• (1, Moreno Moser (Liquigas), 30:15:49)
• 7, Ion Izagirre, 0:29
• 29, Igor Antón, 4:14
• 39, Romain Sicard, 8:10
• 54, Miguel Minguez, 17:05
• 99, Juan José Oroz, 37:45

Over in France, Euskaltel missed out on the main break and therefore had a relatively easy day in the saddle. The 159km 15th stage from Samatan to Pau was the last before the final rest day, meaning the riders in orange are likely to confront the Pyrenees from Wednesday and onwards well rested and ready to go.

Egoi Martínez stayed with the pack and hung onto his 18th overall.

Stage 15 results:

• (1, Pierrick Fédrigo (FDJ), 3:40:15)
• 33, Egoi Martínez, 11:50
• 95, Rubén Pérez, s.t.
• 104, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
• 110, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 137, Gorka Izagirre, s.t.