The rider from Vitoria-Gasteiz out-sprinted his nine breakaway rivals after completing the 128-kilometer course, which included four mountain passes. He had previously won the second stage of the Vuelta a Navarra three weeks ago, and now celebrates another success, further solidifying a promising season that already boasts three podium finishes.
A pure sprinter, Ruiz de Arcaute managed to join an initial breakaway of fifteen riders that formed on the first lap and ultimately proved decisive on the final ascent to Altzo. Despite facing stronger climbers, the Smartlog team member endured the climb and from the summit, he foresaw another victory.
“"Just at the top, three rivals went, but we managed to catch them with one kilometer to go, and then I saw it couldn't escape me."
The rider from Álava is in good form and with the added confidence a win provides, he heads to the Spanish Championships in Sabiñánigo next weekend. "Racing with professionals is different; the course is long, and the goal is to last as long as possible and gain experience," acknowledges Ruiz de Arcaute.
In mid-May, he will participate in the Vuelta a Zamora, where a couple of stages suit his characteristics well. Another victory would significantly boost his ambition to turn professional next season.
Separately, a late surge five kilometers from the finish proved successful in Salvatierra (Agurain) for Aimar Zapiain, who won the XXV Premio San Juan-Memorial Íñigo Díaz for cadet cyclists over a 50-kilometer route. The rider from Gipuzkoa narrowly beat Oihan Arevalo from Navarre and Xabat Martín, who joined him on the podium. The first rider from Álava was local Ugaitz Martínez de Albeniz, finishing fifth. The event attracted 170 participants.
Finally, Laia Sagarduy reached the podium in Balmaseda in a race from the Euskaldun Tournament for female cyclists. The RPK-Udapa cyclist secured third place in the cadet category, a race decided by sprint, won by Maider Hierro ahead of Izaro Ezpelata. The Club Ciclista Zuyano team also claimed the award for best team.




