Itzulia Basque Country 2026, April 6-11

[Dazed and Confused]

Lipo dropping Del Toro

 

[Brumdog66]

Why should Del Toro care about them? Roglic isn't going for the win, Lipowitz was much more visibly on the limit. Drafting isn't much of a big deal at 9%.

If you are Del Toro, and you see the race win going up the road – do you keep working and just pummel it, or pull over and try to get others to work? You keep going. It's really stupid, there's no defending it. He should be at the top 30s down maximum, not 50s. That was totally self inflicted

Lipowitz is strong as well but they are racing for second

 

[Escarabajo]

Oh dear, this has to be some of the most stupid riding that I have seen!

 

[Red Rick]

50s gap is big, but considering the poor chase and the tailwind I can't help but think Vingegaard would've taken a lot more.

 

[Brullnux]

Lipowitz is strong as well but they are racing for second

Yeah I've realised and it is annoying. Still, I don't think it exonerates Del Toro from also giving up

 

[Tim Cahill]

Basque always been a strange race, very few people actually peak for a one weeker, wouldn't be surprised to see Aranburu loom over the horizon in a second.

 

[canina82]

Del Toro thinks he can negative split...
This is not the UAE tour and this is not Tiberi.

He couldn't follow Seixas no matter what tbh.
Seixas is clearly above him which is very scary in 2 years. In fact, I already expect Seixas to be better than Pogacar next year but I think he will race the Giro in 2027 (after getting a 2nd place in the TdF 2026)

 

[Rob5091]

50 seconds gap at the top.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

He's a funny guy Lipowitz you can't deny that, bit of a troll.

Imagine he found a way to put all his mini attacks into one or two attacks.

 

[Rou]

58 secs.
Destruction.

 

[Red Rick]

Roglic: "Today I feel Carapaz"

 

[Brumdog66]

Yeah I've realised and it is annoying. Still, I don't think it exonerates Del Toro from also giving up

No they should’ve been able to reach an accord to work together. Even if they are racing for second they could probably have gapped everyone else

 

[Sciatic]

Whoa, what a cool spot

 

[topcat]

Moto drafting Seixas

 

[canina82]

Roglic: "Today I feel Carapaz"

He is racing like he used to race. During his whole career, he was a mountain sprinter after wheelsucking his teammates or opponents.

 

[dercuforever]

He's coming

Calling del Toro Valverde when he is closest to Almeida pinch wise is strange

 

[Rob5091]

So is this the part where they meet themselves coming the other way?

 

[AmRacer]

So, Sexias will ride defensively rest of the week

 

[canina82]

50s gap is big, but considering the poor chase and the tailwind I can't help but think Vingegaard would've taken a lot more.

Yeah but he is improving fast! Who knows what rider he will be 3 months!

 

[theyoungest]

He couldn't follow Seixas no matter what tbh.
Seixas is clearly above him which is very scary in 2 years. In fact, I already expect Seixas to be better than Pogacar next year but I think he will race the Giro in 2027 (after getting a 2nd place in the TdF 2026)

This probably isn't the best Del Toro we've ever seen. The dynamic of this race is quite similar to Catalunya, one guy a cut above the rest and then a group of guys at the same level. This doesn't mean we're looking at Pogi levels of performance yet...

 

[RedheadDane]

Roglic: "Today I feel Carapaz"

Did Carapaz consent to that?

 

[Red Rick]

He is racing like he used to race. During his whole career, he was a mountain sprinter after wheelsucking his teammates or opponents.

He's very clearly on the limit.

It's understandable that that is a difficult concept to grasp

 

[Rou]

Skjelmose showing Juan who will be carrying bottles in July.

 

[Rob5091]

So, Sexias will ride defensively rest of the week

If he's smart.

 

[Berniece]

50s gap is big, but considering the poor chase and the tailwind I can't help but think Vingegaard would've taken a lot more.

Indeed, Vingegaard in Catalunya was more impressive when you look at the gap with Lipowitz. And then Vingegaard wasn’t even peaking