2026 Itzulia Basque Country Stage 3 Results & Recap
Stage 3 of the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
After two successes for Paul Seixas (DCT), France continued its winning start to the Itzulia Basque Country thanks to Axel Laurance (IGD), who outsprinted Igor Arrieta (UAD) for victory on short, sharp haul up to the line in Basauri to claim his third win of the season.
The pair were part of a 16-rider breakaway that came together after more than 60 frantic kilometers of racing. There were at least 15 short-lived breakaways over that initial stretch, with many riders realising that this, the easiest stage on the race, was an opportunity not to be missed.
Laurance and Arrieta went away from their breakaway companions on the descent from the second of consecutive cat 2 climbs, with 26km remaining. The pair gradually pushed their lead out to more than a minute going onto the final (uncategorized) ascent, which topped out 6km from home.
At this point, they began to toy with each other, Arrieta reducing his contribution to the pacing because he knew the punchy Laurance was quicker in a sprint, Laurance trying and failing to drop his rival.
The chasing group began to close rapidly. As the leading pair swung right onto the final 400m ramp up to the line, their pursuers were just 15 seconds back.
Laurance judged the finale perfectly, holding Arrieta's wheel as the Spaniard powered up the final drag, before accelerating by with 100m to go. Natnael Tesfazion (MOV) led the chasers in ahead of Ilan Van Wilder (SOQ) and Tobias Halland Johannessen (UXM).
Race leader Paul Seixas (DCT) did the same on the front of the peloton, his 1:59 advantage on Primož Roglič maintained.
Unfortunately, Arrieta's team leader Isaac Del Toro (UAD) failed to finish after crashing on a roundabout halfway through the stage. The Mexican champion was able to get into the team car under his own steam, but sustained significant road rash in the tumble.
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