Itzulia Basque Country 2025

Itzulia Basque Country results

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Stage 6: João Almeida claims final stage and overall victory/As it happened

João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) clinched the final victory and a second stage win on a day when he and his squad dominated from beginning to end. After controlling a large, dangerous break and reeling in stage 5 winner Ben Healy in the last 20 kilometres, Almeida powered away with Enric Mas (Movistar) in the very rugged finale then outsprinted the Spaniard for his second triumph in three days, and the overall.

Stage 5: Ben Healy solos to victory on stage 5  / As it happened

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) showed his pre-Ardennes Classics form with a solo victory on stage 5 of the Itzulia Basque Country 2025, riding away from his breakaway companions for 55 kilometres. João Almeida held onto the race lead as Healy was not a GC threat at almost 20 minutes behind.

Stage 4: João Almeida rides away from rivals on final climb to deliver solo stage 4 victory / As it happened

A single powerful mountain attack by João Almeida saw the Portuguese star solo to both stage 4 win and the overall lead in Itzulia Basque Country. He rode away from his rivals on the last climb of the day, 13 kilometres from the line, then comfortably handled the fast, technical drop down to the finish in Markina-Xemein.

Stage 3: Alex Aranburu awarded stage 3 victory after brief relegation / As it happened

The first rider to pass across the finish line was Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), but his celebration of a stage victory was taken away, briefly, and second-placed Romain Grégoire of Groupama-FDJ was recognised as the victor. Officials relegated Aranburu for going the 'wrong' way at a final roundabout in the final kilometre, then reversed that decision when it was determined the official race book had marked a right turn, the direction that Aranburu took. The GC lead was retained by Max Schachmann (Soudal-QuickStep), who snatched valuable bonus seconds by finishing close behind Grégoire.

Stage 2: Caleb Ewan wins stage 2 / As it happened

Caleb Ewan (Ineos Grenadiers) claimed the victory in the bunch sprint on stage 2, easily besting Luca van Boven (Intermarché-Wanty) and Bastien Tronchon (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale). Max Schachmann (Soudal-Quickstep) continued as race leader.

Stage 1: Max Schachmann pulls out ITT win over João Almeida / As it happened

German Max Schachmann (Soudal-Quickstep) prevailed in the opening stage by less than one second ahead of favourite João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) in the 18.7 kilometre individual time trial in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was third one second behind.

Itzulia Basque Country information

The Itzulia Basque Country will be in its 80th edition in 2025 with an 18.7-kilometre flat individual time trial and stages suited to both sprinters and punchy climbers along the 870.2-kilometre 2025 Itzulia Basque Country route.

The Tour of the Basque country began in 1924 when it was known as the GP Excelsior, with early winners including Francis Pellissier, 1929 Tour de France winner Maurice De Waele, and, in 1935, Gino Bartali.

In 1936, the race shut down seemingly for good due to the Spanish Civil War. Despite Francisco Franco's oppressive reign though, there were several attempts to resume the race in Bilbao and San Sebastián, none of which took hold.

In the 1950s, it was resurrected as a race in Eibar, which became the Eibarko Bizikleta, later the Euskal Bizikleta, and then the Tour of the Basque Country in 1969.

Jacques Anquetil, Luis Ocaña (twice), Sean Kelly (three times), and record four-time winner José Antonio González Linares were among the winners in the 18 years before the race split apart again, with the Euskal Bizikleta going solo in until re-merging with the Tour of the Basque Country after the global financial crisis of 2008.

In the meantime, Tony Rominger dominated the race in the early 1990s, while Iban Mayo, Denis Menchov and Danilo Di Luca were among the notable victors of the 2000s. UCI regulations introduced in 2006 heralded the end of the split-stage format – one road stage, one time trial – which had been part of the race since 1969, substituted by the six-day structure that exists today.

Race organisers rejected a buyout proposal from Vuelta a España organisers Unipublic shortly after the 2008 financial crisis, while the Euskal Bizikleta merger brought aboard the Alto de Arrate climb in 2009, forming the race we know today.

In 2012, financial problems reappeared as the local government backers ran into trouble, with the race at serious risk of stopping altogether. However, a combination of fund-raising channels – including from fans, and sponsorship from Banco Sabadell Guipuzcoano – saved it.

Four years later, Alberto Contador won his fourth edition of the race, equalling José Antonio González Linares record in one of the final victories of his storied career. Primož Roglič's win in 2021 was his second, his final day comeback adding another strand of history to the famed Arrate.

Last year, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) won the overall Itzulia Basque Country after favourites Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič all crashed on the third stage, with the two-time Tour de France winner the most injured.

Itzulia Basque Country start list

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Itzulia Basque Country teams

• Alpecin-Deceuninck
• Arkéa-B&B Hotels
• Bahrain Victorious
• Cofidis
• Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
• EF Education-EasyPost
• Groupama-FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Intermarché-Wanty
• Jayco-AlUla
• Lidl-Trek
• Movistar Team
• Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
• Soudal-Quickstep
• Team Picnic-PostNl
• UAE Team Emirates XRG
• Visma-Lease a Bike
• XDS Astana Team
• TotalEnergies
• Euskaltel-Euskadi
• Kern Pharma
• Burgos Burpellet BH
• Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
• Tudor Pro Cycling