Itzulia Basque Country: Seixas and Del Toro Ignite Cycling’s New Era

The 65th edition of Itzulia Basque Country began on April 6, 2026, with a dominant performance from Paul Seixas, who won the opening individual time trial. The victory marks a significant early clash in a burgeoning rivalry between Seixas and Isaac del Toro, two riders viewed as the next generation of professional cycling.

The opening stage featured a 13.9km time trial where Seixas established an early lead in the general classification. This result sets the stage for a high-stakes battle throughout the six-day race, which runs from April 6 to April 11, 2026.

A New Era of Rivalry

The narrative of the 2026 race is centered on the competition between Seixas and del Toro. While Seixas has taken the initial advantage, del Toro enters the race as a strong contender. Analysis suggests that the demanding nature of Itzulia Basque Country, characterized by steep climbs and punchy stages, is well-suited to del Toro’s capabilities.

The startlist for the 2026 event includes other high-profile competitors such as Juan Ayuso and Primož Roglič, adding further depth to the competition for the overall victory.

Context of the Competition

Itzulia Basque Country is renowned for its narrow roads, unstable weather and explosive racing. Historically, the race has seen a wide variety of champions, with 48 different winners in its history. The record for the most victories is shared by Alberto Contador and José Antonio González, who each won the event four times.

The 2025 edition was won by João Almeida, who secured the general classification in a race that took place from April 7 to April 12, 2025. In that edition, Almeida defeated Enric Mas and Maximilian Schachmann. Almeida’s 2025 victory was the first of three consecutive WorldTour stage race wins, followed by triumphs at the Tour de Romandie in May and the Tour de Suisse in June 2025.

Other notable performances from the 2025 race included:

• Maximilian Schachmann winning the opening time trial.
• Caleb Ewan winning stage 2, which served as the final race day of his professional career.
• Alex Aranburu winning stage 3 after a late attack, following a brief disqualification and subsequent reinstatement.
• Ben Healy winning stage 5 with a 56km solo effort.
• Isaac del Toro winning the youth classification.

Looking Ahead

As the race progresses through April 11, the focus will shift from the time trial results to the steep climbs of the Basque region. The battle between the experienced veterans and the rising stars like Seixas and del Toro will determine who can withstand the volatile conditions and punchy terrain to claim the 2026 title.