2026 Itzulia Basque Country Stage 4 Results & Recap
Stage 4 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
Another stage of relentless action ended with local favorite Alex Aranburu (COF) taking victory at the top of the fierce final ramp in Galdakao, the punchy Spaniard powering clear of Tobias Johannessen (UXM) close to the crest of the climb. Cristian Scaroni (XAT) was a fairly close third, just ahead of Aranburu's veteran teammate Ion Izagirre (COF).
Like yesterday, a large part of the stage was covered before the first significant break formed, groups going and coming back at regular intervals. During one of these surges, pre-race favorite Juan Ayuso (LTK) abandoned, the victim of stomach issues that had plagued him since day two.
Brandon McNulty (UAD) was the rider who finally managed to break the peloton's grip, after 67km had been covered. As the American forged a lone trail, the peloton split behind him, 34 riders going clear of the main part of the bunch, which contained all of the GC contenders.
McNulty extended his lead to 2:15 on the chase group and double that on the bunch going over the Vivero climb, the fifth of the day. His advantage began to dwindle, however, and he was caught just before the second ascent of the Vivero after 70km out on his own.
There were numerous attacks in the front group and in the peloton on the Vivero. Up front, Marc Soler (UAD) was very prominent and eventually led over the climb, just ahead of Johannessen, with Aranburu and others not too far behind. Back in the bunch, Florian Lipowitz (RBH) tried to unsettle race leader Paul Seixas (DCT), making four attacks, all countered by the Frenchman.
On the very acute slopes of the final categorized climb, Aranburu went clear, Johannessen joining him just before the summit. In the peloton, it was Primož Roglič's turn to try to rough up Seixas. He fared no better than teammate Lipowitz. On the descent, where Aranburu almost distanced Johannessen, Seixas managed to do precisely that to all of his closest rivals.
Coming into the final kilometer, Johannessen and Aranburu could see riders closing in on them. Scaroni and Izagirre managed to bridge up to the pair inside the last 500m, Izagirre attacking immediately and forcing Johannessen to chase, while Aranburu stayed on the Norwegian's wheel, saving himself for the last effort that finally made the difference.
Seixas was not far behind in 8th and gained another 20 seconds on his GC rivals ahead of tomorrow's "queen" stage at Eibar.
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