2026 Itzulia Basque Country Race Preview
The details of this year's 2026 Itzulia Basque Country are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
After finishing runner-up at the Tour of the Algarve to Juan Ayuso (LTK) and then, more memorably, at Strade Bianche to Tadej Pogačar (UAD), 19-year-old French sensation Paul Seixas (DCT) will be very much the focus of attention during the 81st edition of Itzulia Basque Country.
Seixas neatly summed up the challenge facing him and his team in this six-day WorldTour race, saying, "I will be supported by most of the team’s best climbers because, this year in particular, the route is very mountainous, with no opportunities for sprinters."
That analysis is spot on as every stage, including the opening time trial, leans heavily towards the climbers in this strong field. In addition to teenage tyro Seixas, there's a host of climbing/GC talents in the line-up.
After crashing out of Paris-Nice when in the leader's jersey, 2024 Itzulia winner Ayuso is making his return to action at the head of Lidl-Trek team that also features Mathias Skjelmose. The UAD team that Ayuso left in the winter looks extremely powerful too, with Isaac Del Toro as its leader, backed by the likes of Brandon McNulty and Marc Soler.
Primož Roglič will be targeting a third GC success at Itzulia in a Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe team that has been built around the chances of the Slovenian veteran. Meanwhile, Bahrain Victorious are another squad that have gone for a double-headed attack, led by Basque favorite Pello Bilbao and Antonio Tiberi.
Ineos Grenadiers made a late change to their team, bringing in Kévin Vauquelin to replace Michał Kwiatkowski, who's still recovering from his crash at Milan-Sanremo. Fourth in Paris-Nice, the Frenchman will add a very obvious focus to an attack that also features the in-form AJ August, Axel Laurance and Victor Langellotti.
Other GC names likely to feature include Cian Uijtdebroecks (MOV), 2019 Itzulia victor Ion Izagirre (COF) and Ben Healy (EFE), who was a stage winner here last year and is exactly the kind of punchy climber who tends to thrive in the constantly undulating Basque Country terrain.
Keep an eye out too for 20-year-old Jarno Widar (LOI), who was Seixas's principal rival in the under-23 ranks. The Belgian has had a comparatively low-key start to his WorldTour career, but will relish a route that's so well-suited to his climbing ability.
Most of the other teams will start with punchy performers who will put them in the frame for stage wins. Uno-X Mobility and XDS Astana typify this approach. The former carry a potent threat in the shape of Tobias Johannessen and Magnus Cort, while the latter have pitched in most of their best climbers including Sergio Higuita, Paris-Nice stage winner Harold Tejada and Tour of Oman winner Cristian Scaroni.
Monday's time trial will set the stage for what follows. Traditionally, the organizers have opted for a very short test, but the opening 13.9km course in Bilbao is a good deal longer than usual and includes two climbs, both steep, the second one touching 19% and with the finish at the top.
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