On a day soaked in rain, the 28-year-old Italian came 14th at the finish in Eibar.
In what was arguably one of the toughest individual time trials this season will see, Gianluca Brambilla gave his all against a classy opposition and finished in the top 15, around one minute and a half adrift of the best time recorded. On a year in which he already improved and took things to a totally different level, Gianluca made the most out of his climbing skills on Santuario de Arrate and showed once again that he is close to hit the top form that he hopes will land him other wins, following the one he scored in January, at the Challenge Mallorca.
Provisional leader at one point in stage 6 of Vuelta al Pais Vasco, the Italian was 14th at the end of a day which witnessed the triumph of Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) over Sergio Henao (Team Sky) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar). In the same general classification, best rider of Etixx – Quick-Step was neo-pro Laurens De Plus, in 25th place, an impressive performance considering the Belgian is only 20-years-old and raced just his second World Tour event of the season, after last month's Volta a Catalunya.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
