Equipo Euskadi: Alentejo stage 3-5 round-up

Carlos Barbero was the stand-out performer as Equipo Euskadi closed out the Volta ao Alentejo on a high this weekend.

The Burgos-born prodigy, a product of Naturgas Energía and tipped for an Euskaltel contract in the future, followed up his tenth place on stage one with eighth on stage three. The third leg took the riders 179,9 clicks from Vidigueira to Mértola and saw Optum rider Ken Hanson emerge victorious.

Full stage three results here.

Unai Iparragirre took up the mantle as a fast finisher on the following day, finishing an impressive fifth in Odemira after a mainly flat, 153,3km ride from Oirique. Barbero was once again on hand to give his team another top ten, though, crossing the line in ninth on a stage that was won by another Optum rider, Thomas Zirbel.

Full stage four results here. 

Sunday's fifth and concluding leg, a 135,4km ride in the hills from Vila Nova de Santo André to Santiago de Cácem, saw Bontrager youngster Jasper Stuyven hang onto his overall lead to win the race outright. The stage was taken out by Portuguese LA Aluminios rider Antonio Carvalho, with Barbero once again in close attendance in fourth only two seconds in arrears.

Full stage five results here.

Barbero's strong final showing and consistency throughout the race netted him ninth overall.

Illart Zuazubiskar dropped out on day five, while Mikel Bizkarra quit the preceding day.

Final general classification (full results here):

• (1, Jasper Stuyven (Bontrager), 19:30:47)
• 9, Carlos Barbero (Euskadi), 1:36
• 27, Aritz Bagües (Euskadi), 3:31
• 53, Unai Iparragirre (Euskadi), 15:18
• 58, Mikel Aristi (Euskadi), 16:03
• 76, Jon Larrinaga (Euskadi), 19:38
• 82, Igor Merino (Euskadi), 22:42

In the team rankings, Euskadi finished a noteworthy third. 

Photo: Ciclismo a fondo