The route for the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country was unveiled on Wednesday, February 11, with the challenging week-long stage race following a similar formula to years gone by.
The six-day race, which runs from April 6-11, will open with a short time trial as it has in 2024 and 2025, with Bilbao hosting the 13.9km opener. In a region known for its hills, the climbing starts right away in the time trial and doesn’t stop, with 29 major climbs and 16,264 metres of elevation filling the route between Bilbao and Bergara.
Jonas Vinegegaard, Juan Ayuso, and João Almeida have won the race in recent years, and it would be no surprise to see a major GC name triumph once more this April.
Watch out for contenders including Isaac Del Toro, Paul Seixas, Primož Roglič, Mikel Landa, and Mattias Skjelmose this time around.
Stage 1: Bilbao – Bilbao, 13.9km
The race’s opening stage in Bilbao is a short time trial, but it’s far from a straightforward stage, with climbing from the off and 240 metres of ascent during the day.
The 2.4km, 7.3% ascent of Santo Domingo launches the 13.9km stage before a long descent and a concluding final kick to the finish with gradients hitting 19% on the way up.
Stage 2: Pamplona – Cuevas de Mendukilo, 164.1km
Stage 2, from Pamplona to Cuevas de Mendukilo, is one of the longest of the race at 164.1km and also features some of the longest climbs in the race to boot.
Four major climbs line the route, which features 3,268 metres of elevation, though there are several more hills besides that, including the one to the finish line. The late first-category test of San Miguel Aralar (9.5km at 7.75), which returns to the route after years away, will be decisive.
Stage 3: Basauri – Basauri, 152.8km
Stage 3 is held to the south of Bilbao, beginning and ending in the town of Basauri on the outskirts of the city. The stage runs for 152.8km and features ‘just’ 2,824 metres of elevation and three classified climbs.
The toughest challenge of the stage is the 5km, 6.6% Barrerilla in the middle of the stage. However, two short, sharp hills in the closing…
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