The 81st edition of the Circuit de Getxo - Memorial Hermanos Otxoa speaks Eritrean. By making the most of his explosive sprint, Natnael Tesfatsion (Movistar) conquered the renowned Spanish .1 category classic ahead of Pau Miquel (Bahrain-Victorious) and Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), thus securing the first victory by an African rider in the history of the event.

Decisive in the finale, following the selection that emerged on the second passage of the Alto de Pike (the climb where the day's breakaway composed of 10 riders was definitively neutralized), came the concluding ramp towards the Getxo finish line: here the group of 25 riders formed during the descent kilometers following the iconic Basque ascent went to sprint for the final victory, which Tesfatsion seized with perfect timing, outpacing rivals who were even more favored than him.

For the twenty-seven-year-old from Asmara, in his second year with Eusebio Unzue's team, this was his second success of the season (the eighth of his professional career) following the one achieved at the end of May in the fourth stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, a victory that will certainly give him confidence to approach the final stretch of the season with even more aggression and conviction.

From an Italian perspective, noteworthy are the strong finishes of Ludovico Crescioli (Polti VisitMalta) and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek): the former, finishing in fifth position, achieved his best result since his victory at the last Giro dell'Appennino; the latter, with sixth place, repeated what he accomplished twenty-four hours earlier at the Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa, confirming he possesses a turn of pace that is anything but weak.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Natnael Tesfatsion (ERI/Movistar) - 3:58:49

2. Pau Miquel (SPA/Bahrain-Victorious) - s.t.

3. Alex Aranburu (SPA/Cofidis) - s.t.

4. Marcel Camprubí (SPA/Pinarello-Q36.5) - s.t.

5. Ludovico Crescioli (ITA/Polti VisitMalta) - s.t.

6. Giulio Ciccone (ITA/Lidl-Trek) - s.t.

7. Jordi López (SPA/Euskaltel-Euskadi) - s.t.

8. Mathieu Burgaudeau (FRA/TotalEnergies) - s.t.

9. César Pérez (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) at 0:04

10. Kevin Vermaerke (USA/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) at 0:08