The town of Tartar welcomes the peloton and the support team in front of the Tartar District Government Building for the 5th and final stage of the Baku-Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race. 125 professionals from 24 teams set off at 8.35 am in glorious sunshine and 21°C, initially on a 5.4 km neutralised section. The route, which is just over 181 kilometres long, then features two sprint classifications and two mountain classifications, offering riders the chance to collect points and time bonuses. The first half features a climb of just under 300 metres in altitude and the two sprint classifications; otherwise, this section is largely flat. In the second part, the riders face two challenging climbs up to 1,450 metres in altitude and the two mountain classifications of the second and first categories respectively.

Race summary
After the sharp start, the route runs slightly downhill. The peloton stretches out a little here. Iñigo Elosegui (Equipo Kern Pharma) launches a solo attack, but this is quickly thwarted by the peloton. Two riders suffer punctures but are also immediately back in the peloton, which remains together until kilometre 28. Subsequently, five riders break away in an attempt to escape, but the peloton closes the gap a few kilometres later. Shortly afterwards, the first sprint classification is due.

The first sprint classification (km 44.8) produced the following result:
1. Cristian David Pita 5 3’’
2. Henok Mulubhran 3 2’’
3. Marco Manenti 2 1’’

A relatively high number of punctures continue to pose challenges for the teams affected. At kilometre 64, a group of eight riders breaks away: Raman Tsishkou (Li Ning Star), Eduardo Pérez-Landaluce (Óbidos Cycling Team), Yorben Lauryssen & Arne Santy (both Tarteletto – Isorex), Franciszek Matuszewski (Mazowsze Serce Polski), Jonathan Kerkhofs (Universe Cycling Team), Muhammad Syelhan (ASC Monsters Indonesia) and Óscar Sevilla (Team Medellín – EPM)

From this leading group, the following three riders contested the second sprint classification (km 84) with the following result:
1. Raman Tsishkou 5 3’’
2. Arne Santy 3 2’’
3. Yorben Lauryssen 2 1’’

Olsian Velia (Sidi Ali – Unlock Sports Team, #215) withdraws from the race. This leaves 124 riders still in the race. There are a few more punctures, but all three riders quickly make it back into the peloton.

After just over 100 kilometres, another rider, Jordi Slootjes (EuroCyclingTrips – CCN, #143), withdraws.

At km 104, the feed zone begins for the remaining 123 riders.

After approximately 127 kilometres, four riders drop out of the leading group:
* Jonathan Kerkhofs (Universe Cycling Team)
* Raman Tsishkou (Li Ning Star)
• Arne Santy (Tarteletto – Isorex)
* Muhammad Syelhan (ASC Monsters Indonesia)
and are swallowed up by the peloton one after the other. The gap between the leading group

The gap between the breakaway group and the peloton is now 1 minute 30 seconds. Meanwhile, Oscar Sevilla (ESP, Team Medellín-EPM), the 49-year-old veteran of the peloton, is attacking from the breakaway group, which now consists of four riders. After around six kilometres, however, the Spaniard is caught by the remaining three in the leading group. Meanwhile, the Pole Franciszek Matuszewski (Mazowsze Serce Polski) drops straight out of the grupetto. A trio remains at the front: Eduardo Pérez-Landaluce, Yorben Lauryssen and Oscar Sevilla. Their lead over the peloton is 1:38 minutes with around 40 kilometres to go.

The riders now face the approximately 7.7 km climb with an average gradient of 4.7% leading to the first mountain classification.

Eduardo Pérez-Landaluce and then Oscar Sevilla drop out of the leading trio and are swallowed up by the peloton. Yorben Lauryssen tries to keep the peloton at bay on his own, but is caught by the peloton.

24 kilometres from the finish, David Delgado (ESP) attacks on the approach to the first mountain classification, with Josh Burnett (NZL) and other riders following him.

The first mountain classification (cat. 1, km 158.5) yields the following result:
1. David Delgado 5
2. Josh Burnett 3
3. Luca Covili 2
4. Calum Johnston 1

The group then tackles the 4.6 km climb to Şuşa, with an average gradient of 6.7%.

In the peloton, Li Ning Stars increases the pace, causing some riders to drop back. In the leading group, meanwhile, David Delgado is struggling to keep up. In the peloton, Henok Mulubhran, one of the favourites for the overall victory, is picking up the pace. The overall leader, Yevgeniy Fedorov, crashes but is able to continue.

The leading group is approaching the second Category 2 climb (km 166.8), which yields the following result:
1. Josh Burnett 10
2. David Delgado 7
3. Luca Covili 5
4. Alession Martinelli 3
5. Eric Antonio Fagúdez 1

Finale
After the subsequent descent of around eight kilometres, Josh Burnett makes the best move on the final climb to Khankendi and uses this to launch a solo breakaway, gradually pulling away from the group, which is eventually caught by the peloton. The New Zealander manages to maintain a gap of 30 seconds over the peloton at times, and even as he enters the home straight he still has a lead of almost 20 seconds, thus securing a commanding stage victory. Second place goes to Henok Mulubhran from Eritrea, ahead of Eric Antonio Fagúndez from Uruguay.
Burnett also takes the lead in the general classification by a narrow margin of three seconds, allowing him to don the blue jersey of the overall winner. Henok Mulubhran takes first place in the general classification for the best sprinter and thus the green jersey. Belgian Lennert Teugels (Team Tartelette – Isorex) defends the red jersey for the best climber, whilst Spaniard Iker Gomez (Equipo Kern Pharma) takes home the white jersey for the strongest young rider as his trophy.

The Spanish team Burgos Burpellet BH won the team classification on the final stage with a total time of 57 hours, 21 minutes and 3 seconds, finishing 12 seconds ahead of the Italian team Bardiani CSF 7 Saber.

Results overview

Stage classification
1. Josh Burnett (NZL, Burgos Burpellet BH)
2. Henok Mulubhran (ERI, XDS Astana Team)
3. Eric Antonio Fagúndez (UY, Burgos Burpellet BH)

General Classification
1. Josh Burnett (NZL, Burgos Burpellet BH)
2. Henok Mulubhran (ERI, XDS Astana Team)
3. Alexandre Balmer (SUI, Solution Tech NIPPO Rali)

Overall winner of the Sprint Classification (green jersey)
Henok Mulubhran (ERI, XDS Astana Team)

Overall winner of the Mountains Classification (red jersey)
Lennert Teugels (BEL, Tarteletto – Isorex)

Overall winner of the Best Young Rider Classification (white jersey)
Iker Gómez (ESP, Equipo Kern Pharma)

Overall winner of the Team Classification
Team Burgos Burpellet BH