As it happened: Victory sealed by early attack on selective stage 2 of Itzulia Basque Country

The second stage of Itzulia Basque Country saw a decisive early attack secure victory for Paul Lapeira (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale). The Frenchman launched his move with 30km remaining on the undulating 164km route, holding off a chasing peloton led by UAE Team Emirates to cross the line alone. Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe) retained the overall leader's jersey despite a crash earlier in the stage, maintaining his seven-second advantage over Mattias Skjelmose.

Lapeira's audacious move marks a significant win for Decathlon AG2R, a team that has shown renewed vigour this season, often through aggressive racing. For Roglic, his second consecutive day hitting the deck raises concerns, despite his resilience in retaining the *maillot amarillo*. It's a reminder of the fine margins and inherent risks in modern Grand Tour preparation, especially when navigating the notoriously tricky Basque roads.

Lapeira's triumph is a testament to boldness, though Roglic's repeated tumbles suggest the race's true test might be surviving it upright.