Itzulia Basque Country 2026, April 6-11

[Red Rick]

This climb did very little at all for GC as a descent finish (with like 1k of flat after the descent) at the 2020 Vuelta, but of course Itzulia is not the Vuelta and a race with Roglic as the big favourite is a very different environment to the one we are in here. The descent itself is shallow and untechnical enough that it normally plays into the hands of a chasing group, but given that Seixas is the technically superior rider that might not matter either.

it's hard enough that if Decathlon want to launch Seixas there, they can.

 

[Cookster15]

Haven’t seen this before. No aero shoes, just covering up his laces.

With a bike that aero you don't have to worry about the little things.

 

[Rou]

2025, 2022 and (with the route alteration) 2020 didn't have anything remotely resembling a queen stage.

2025 he gets mauled on Angliru and Bola del Mundo.
2022 was indeed softer. 2020 Angliru would be a problem as well.
It's not the route. It's the opposition. This is what I'm trying to say.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

it's hard enough that if Decathlon want to launch Seixas there, they can.

I also expect all out war, I mainly wanted to point out that a) it's not a climb where it happens by default and b) how much things have changed since 2020.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

2025 he gets mauled on Angliru and Bola del Mundo.
2022 was indeed softer. 2020 Angliru would be a problem as well.
It's not the route. It's the opposition. This is what I'm trying to say.

Look at the time gaps on those climbs. Bola del Mundo had six riders within 24 seconds, Angliru 2020 had seven riders within 26 seconds. Normally speaking Del Toro should not be worse than sixth-best on any given Vuelta MTF, and therefore neither climb is an automatic dealbreaker.

also Angliru is the most overrated MTF in cycling

 

[memyselfandI]

Haven’t seen this before. No aero shoes, just covering up his laces.

At least GripGrab make those neat covers for Boas, of course gives watt or two for laces too.

 

[KZD]

Another incredible ride from Seixas, to put himself in the pole position to win this race. He is clearly the best 19 year old that I have ever seen and possibly already one of the best riders in the world as I believe that he will show this week.

Very good ride from Vauquelin to give a 1-2 to the French. I could see him on the final podium. Surprisingly good ride from Großschartner, best UAE rider of the day.

As for the other GC riders, the Red Bull riders did well with Roglič and Lipowitz on a good position but both Del Toro and Ayuso were disappointing, specially the Spaniard who I had as the favourite for today. Hopefully this gives them the incentive to attack starting already tomorrow (though it wouldn't shock me if Seixas is the one attacking).

 

[Red Rick]

Look at the time gaps on those climbs. Bola del Mundo had six riders within 24 seconds, Angliru 2020 had seven riders within 26 seconds. Normally speaking Del Toro should not be worse than sixth-best on any given Vuelta MTF, and therefore neither climb is an automatic dealbreaker.

also Angliru is the most overrated MTF in cycling

These long drags into a very steep finale are objectively the worst kind of climbs. Some how gaps are always smaller than if the steep climb was just an unipuerto smash. Cuitu Negru is the other offender.

Angliru isn't the worst of them, but it has some traits, and it often depends on if they send it on the first steep ramp or if they wait until Cuenas les Cabres.

 

[memyselfandI]

Already this year will be special. I said it already that he has reached the level of vingegaard in the winter & will give him a difficult time for 2nd place in the tour.

Spoiler

After week or so racing in grand tours there is still two weeks to go.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Reminds me of an aldi sestriere style finish

It'll be interesting to see how Lidl get on...

 

[search]

it's hard enough that if Decathlon want to launch Seixas there, they can.

Asked for his favorite stage during the team presentation, Seixas said stage 2.

 

[Lequack]

What happened to Ayuso?

 

[canina82]

Proper racing is back

This aged well

 

[Peyresourde]

According to W2W, Seixas was only 1 second faster than Pogacar in 2021 on the first climb. And the wind there was more favourable this year, so Pogacar probably pushed more watts on the first climb.

Obviously, Seixas paced himself really well while Pogacar back then blew up a bit. Still, this implies that the general level was really low today (a bit obvious when Mollema almost took the KOM). Let's wait for the climb tomorrow to see Seixas' real level.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

According to W2W, Seixas was only 1 second faster than Pogacar in 2021 on the first climb. And the wind there was more favourable this year, so Pogacar probably pushed more watts on the first climb.

Obviously, Seixas paced himself really well while Pogacar back then blew up a bit. Still, this implies that the general level was really low today (a bit obvious when Mollema almost took the KOM). Let's wait for the climb tomorrow to see Seixas' real level.

Mollema was on a normal bike, hence good time up first climb, but tanked later.

 

[jono]

Nice result for Michael Leonard, although he was also 10th last year in the opening Itzulia TT so no improvement.

 

[ingsve]

Tobias Halland Johannesen did a good TT for being him. He is far closer on overall GC other than to Seixas than in Tirreno for example. If he still has the same good shape then he could be a challenger for the podium depending on how others perform ofc.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Awesome by Seixas. Can Rogla and co do anything this week to beat him?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Awesome by Seixas. Can Rogla and co do anything this week to beat him?

Slash his tires.

 

[Red Rick]

Mollema was on a normal bike, hence good time up first climb, but tanked later.

It's still only 7.7% average, and Mollema is hella washed at fresh 6 minute climbs.

According to W2W, Seixas was only 1 second faster than Pogacar in 2021 on the first climb. And the wind there was more favourable this year, so Pogacar probably pushed more watts on the first climb.

Obviously, Seixas paced himself really well while Pogacar back then blew up a bit. Still, this implies that the general level was really low today (a bit obvious when Mollema almost took the KOM). Let's wait for the climb tomorrow to see Seixas' real level.

Strava has them at the same climbing time, with Pogacar losing 31 seconds in 4km of false flat downhill just after hte top before the steeper part of the descent. Pogacar was 10s faster on the flat section into Bilbao and then Seixas was 10s faster up on the punch to the finish

But climbs on TT bikes are probably the least natural position for many riders and they're probably prone to get the biggest underperformance for many riders.

 

[Old-school]

According to W2W, Seixas was only 1 second faster than Pogacar in 2021 on the first climb. And the wind there was more favourable this year, so Pogacar probably pushed more watts on the first climb.

Obviously, Seixas paced himself really well while Pogacar back then blew up a bit. Still, this implies that the general level was really low today (a bit obvious when Mollema almost took the KOM). Let's wait for the climb tomorrow to see Seixas' real level.

Vauquelin said they had headwind in the last 2 kms.

 

[Heston]

People sure are making a lot of conclusions about the Grand Tour skills of someone who has never ridden a Grand Tour.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

This aged well

It's ok mate we still have the kom competition!!!

 

[tobydawq]

People sure are making a lot of conclusions about the Grand Tour skills of someone who has never ridden a Grand Tour.

Because there is quite a strong correlation between being good at climbing and TT'ing outside a Grand Tour and being good at climbing and TT'ing in a Grand Tour. Crazy as it may sound.

And yes, there are examples of riders who couldn't translate their skills into a Grand Tour, and no, there is no reason to expect that Seixas will belong in that group.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Seixas can kill the race for 1st tomorrow. Hope he does so!