Itzulia Basque Country 2026, April 6-11

[Tim Cahill]

Massive break incoming, Ala, Healy, Scaroni, Nuggets, Soler, Alex

Ander Okamika will take his first win.

 

[Oldman]

So was Tulett.

I think it's a bit painful to watch Roglic like this. He's never been a very attack-minded rider of course, but now he's just riding around a bit aimlessly, it seems.

It's early season for Roglic and Lipowitz needs to show what he can do for upcoming GTs. As for Primoz's state of mind about attacking I'll offer the same evidence he will make a mark when it matters: Last 25km of Catalunya's final stage where he needs to make up 20 seconds to secure overall. Watch it all.

 

[Heston]

Ah missed that.

I didn't see Vauquelin's crash either. Just saw it reported on social media. Don't know if he's hurt

 

[HashRouge]

Whelp. That was impressive! I thought he'd win today, but I didn't think he'd have that much of a margin!

I enjoyed seeing Uijtdebroeks performing well. Surprised del Toro wasn't better though. And I will never be mad to see Ion Izagirre performing well.

 

[ice&fire]

I was wrong when I predicted that boring Pogacar era would be followed by boring Seixas era. They're overlappping.

 

[Lequack]

How good are these watts, compared to Vinge, Pog or Remco? Like for a similar half hour climb?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041553420100772157

View: https://x.com/WattsinCycling/status/2041553420100772157

 

[canina82]

How good are these watts, compared to Vinge, Pog or Remco? Like for a similar half hour climb?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041553420100772157

View: https://x.com/WattsinCycling/status/2041553420100772157

I was expecting bigger numbers

 

[Lequack]

Almost 7W/kg is not big?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Almost 7W/kg is not big?

Unfortunately no.

 

[Gigs_98]

This satement is 100% correct. So was @Ilmaestro99's

@Ilmaestro99 was in fact not 100% correct.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Unfortunately no.

Outside of a Grand Tour is a top climb. Climbers' performance improves in Grand Tours. In previous months the level is lower.

He's achieved the fastest ascent outside of a Grand Tour, and you have to look at the difference: a minute faster than his competitors. It's a top-level climb.

Record outside grand tour at 19 and you say no?

Aru had plutonium in his legs in 2014.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041566939315655051

View: https://x.com/ammattipyoraily/status/2041566939315655051?s=20

 

[Escarabajo]

His decision to not have the legs to follow?

If you see it that way. Ok.
What about positioning? or cooperation? or sharing workload for his benefit? or .....

 

[Krzysztof_O]

OMG, the kid is the new Pogacar! He made Rogla and co look like amateurs. Yet I'm not completely shocked after yesterday's TT. I felt that maybe he could smash the only GT-ish climb of the race.

 

[red_flanders]

If you see it that way. Ok.
What about positioning? or cooperation? or sharing workload for his benefit? or .....

I guess I just don't really get the critique. Clearly not on a good day, couldn't hang on even to the second group, and people are torching his tactics.

Apologies for being flippant about it, wasn't necessary. I do genuinely wonder if folks sometimes (or often in other cases) underplay the role of fatigue in bike racing.

 

[Red Rick]

How good are these watts, compared to Vinge, Pog or Remco? Like for a similar half hour climb?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041553420100772157

View: https://x.com/WattsinCycling/status/2041553420100772157

Can't even beat Roglic' watts on Moncalvillo when it's 2 seasons later (and faster) and he has a tailwind.

 

[AmRacer]

The question is, 'Can he race conservative or will he bonk?'

 

[Old-school]

Just rewatched the last kms when Seixas weaves between the stopped cars, the motorcycles, and the spectator laying on the ground in the midle of the road. Crazy how he avoid all those obstacles !
Also frightening the 2 or 3 turns he took at high speed on the descent. He's so gifted in everything !!!

 

[Cookster15]

A 19 year old phenomenon. Hard to downplay what we are seeing with Seixas I would have thought. Looks like his level has taken a big jump even since the European champs in October.

 

[Sciatic]

Ineos in GC this year is also a mess. Vauquelin nowhere today.

True, that is as surprising

 

[Sciatic]

Outside of a Grand Tour is a top climb. Climbers' performance improves in Grand Tours. In previous months the level is lower.

He's achieved the fastest ascent outside of a Grand Tour, and you have to look at the difference: a minute faster than his competitors. It's a top-level climb.

Record outside grand tour at 19 and you say no?

Aru had plutonium in his legs in 2014.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041566939315655051

View: https://x.com/ammattipyoraily/status/2041566939315655051?s=20

Some perspective: Note that the dawdling G2 also was a minute faster than Aru, even with all the stops and start.

 

[Miha81]

I'd say saving it, we need someone who can stop Pogacar from having his own way all the time.

That would be some show. Old vs young alien rivalry.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The question is, 'Can he race conservative or will he bonk?'

His bonking level is probably the same as the other's peaks right now, so that won't be an issue.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

His banking level is probably the same as the other's peaks right now, so that won't be an issue.

He‘s elite at banking as well? That‘s quite the diverse range of talents.

 

[Escarabajo]

I guess I just don't really get the critique. Clearly not on a good day, couldn't hang on even to the second group, and people are torching his tactics.

Apologies for being flippant about it, wasn't necessary. I do genuinely wonder if folks sometimes (or often in other cases) underplay the role of fatigue in bike racing.

Fatigue might have played a role, but for a rider with Del Toro’s potential—especially at a team like UAE—it’s not a great look.

I think people often underestimate how costly poor positioning can be until it really comes back to hurt you. On top of that, he spent a lot of energy chasing down Lipo on his own, and then the group started hesitating—pulling, then not pulling. It turned into a mess. At times, he seems unsure tactically and could benefit from clearer guidance.

It didn’t help that he eventually got dropped, but the underlying tactical issues are still valid.

 

[memyselfandI]

Seixas does have a bit of a coalminer climbing style

I was waiting for this SO bad!