Itzulia Basque Country 2026, April 6-11

[Dazed and Confused]

A short ITT.

Descending and uphill action on day 2:

More uphill action on stage 3:

What can I say. Stage 4:

An uphill drag then. Stage 5:

Proper descending, stage 6:

Startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/itzulia-basque-country/2026/startlist

A Seixas vs Del Toro vs Ayuso (yes, I've likely missed many) battle perhaps, but what about the grand old man, Landa? Ion dialling back more years again?
Edit: By popular demand, Roglic will fight for the GC win here....

 

[AmRacer]

A short ITT.

Descending and uphill action on day 2:

More uphill action on stage 3:

What can I say. Stage 4:

An uphill drag then. Stage 5:

Proper descending, stage 6:

Startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/itzulia-basque-country/2026/startlist

A Seixas vs Del Toro vs Ayuso (yes, I've likely missed many) battle perhaps, but what about the grand old man, Landa? Ion dialling back more years again?

Rogla

 

[Red Rick]

Is that stage 1 a Roglstomp in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Proper racing is back

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Save for that long valley before the final climb on the final stage, this is straight up a perfect route, and it's perhaps the most favourable lineup we will see in a WT stage race all season on top of that. By rights, it should be the race of the year, let's hope it plays out that way.

 

[Rou]

Let's see this week if Seixas is ready to dine at the big boys' table.

 

[Red Rick]

Save for that long valley before the final climb on the final stage, this is straight up a perfect route, and it's perhaps the most favourable lineup we will see in a WT stage race all season on top of that. By rights, it should be the race of the year, let's hope it plays out that way.

Scenes when it just turns into Del Toro farming mountain sprints

 

[QueenStagiaire]

The Visma team for this race looks very weak, unless Tulett is in shape, it‘s time for free Kruijswijk. Also Lotto have a team with seven different nationalities on the start list.

 

[ice&fire]

I see they are innovating with the route having the Eibar stage on a Friday

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Also Lotto have a team with seven different nationalities on the start list.

The Burgos of the World Tour.

 

[AlfaLum]

Most interesting race on the Calendar so far I guess because it is relatively unpredictable.

Will be very nice to see how the up and coming contenders Seixas, Del Toro and Ayuso measure up against each other here and against old Fox Roglic.

My guess is that all three of the youngsters are going to be better than the rest of the field including Roglic here. I hope however that Seixas will not give early signs of a new dominant era when the Pogacar era is over however.

 

[Faserr]

Lipowitz sneaked into the startlist lastminute. Good for the race. He was really sursprised with his result in Catalunya because he was really sick at the altitude camp in march. Perhaps he can be even better next week. He must be against Seixas and Del Toro.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Roglic has 'not studied the parcours' and will be taking things 'day by day'.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2040848851385344323

Del Toro's teammates have mostly been average for the past month, he will have to rely on Soler here, Ayuso also a question mark, I think Sexais has the most cohesive looking unit here.

 

[jonan92]

I see they are innovating with the route having the Eibar stage on a Friday

This year the last stage ends in Bergara due to the 50th anniversary of Lokatza group. A cycling group from the town that traines youngsters and also organizes some races like Subida a Gorla

 

[red_flanders]

Proper racing is back

This statement was literally made on the first Sunday of Holy Week. SMH.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

This statement was literally made on the first Sunday of Holy Week. SMH.

Flanders is a dead race these days. Small Iberian stage races are all there is to enjoy. Vamos!

 

[Red Rick]

Roglic has 'not studied the parcours' and will be taking things 'day by day'.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2040848851385344323

Del Toro's teammates have mostly been average for the past month, he will have to rely on Soler here, Ayuso also a question mark, I think Sexais has the most cohesive looking unit here.

Mathieu van der Poel: Race no different
Primoz Roglic: Say no different

 

[red_flanders]

Flanders is a dead race these days. Small Iberian stage races are all there is to enjoy. Vamos!

I'm all for Basque Country, but the abject silliness on this forum is getting out of hand.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Let‘s hope the media training final boss can find some good legs because I don‘t like cheering for UAE riders, teen sensations who are going to win 100+ races in their career anyway and Juan Ayuso.

 

[ice&fire]

Flanders is a dead race these days. Small Iberian stage races are all there is to enjoy. Vamos!

Fans of races in the Holy Land during the Holy Week will always have Scheldeprijs

 

[Sciatic]

Fans of races in the Holy Land during the Holy Week will always have Scheldeprijs

That should be Pog’s next challenge! 😉

 

[hayneplane]

This looks to be a really good parcours and strong field.

Expecting a battle Royale of the young guns with Roglic showing he can still threaten.

 

[memyselfandI]

I hope everybody stay safe and upright and this will probably be yet again one more good race!

***** Ayuso, Seixas, Del Toro, Healy
**** Riccitello, Roglic, Tiberi, Lipowitz, Skjelmose
*** Uijtdebroeks, Vauquelin

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I hope everybody stay safe and upright and this will probably be yet again one more good race!

***** Ayuso, Seixas, Del Toro, Healy
**** Riccitello, Roglic, Tiberi, Lipowitz, Skjelmose
*** Uijtdebroeks, Vauquelin

What has Healy done to deserve the five stars?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I hope everybody stay safe and upright and this will probably be yet again one more good race!

***** Ayuso, Seixas, Del Toro, Healy
**** Riccitello, Roglic, Tiberi, Lipowitz, Skjelmose
*** Uijtdebroeks, Vauquelin

Blobloblo ahead of Johannessen, smh.