Tour of the Basque Country: Paul Seixas and Alex Aranburu Triumph

Alex Aranburu secured victory in Stage 4 of the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country on April 9, 2026, winning a challenging uphill finish in Galdakao. While Aranburu took the stage win, race leader Paul Seixas further solidified his hold on the general classification by extending his overall lead.

The 167-kilometer stage was characterized by aggressive racing from the start, leaving the peloton fractured as the riders approached the finale. Aranburu, riding for Cofidis, emerged as the strongest in the final uphill run to the line, beating Tobias Halland Johannessen of Uno-X Mobility to the finish. Christian Scaroni of XDS Astana finished in third place.

Race Dynamics and Key Attacks

The stage began with high intensity, as teams repeatedly neutralized early attempts to establish a breakaway. Julian Alaphilippe was among the most active riders in the early phases of the race, contributing to a constant pressure that gradually wore down the main group.

The first significant disruption occurred when Brandon McNulty attacked over the top of the Jata climb. The American rider built a substantial advantage during the subsequent descent, at one point holding a lead of over two minutes. However, a necessary bike change and a coordinated chase from the peloton eventually caught McNulty before the finale.

The race fractured again on the slopes of the Elorritxueta. Repeated accelerations thinned the front of the race to a select group of riders, which included Marc Soler, Quinn Simmons, Guillaume Martin and Tobias Halland Johannessen. Despite the splits, the overall leader Paul Seixas remained within striking distance of the lead group.

The Final Climb and Sprint

The decisive move of the day formed during the final categorized climb. Alex Aranburu and Tobias Halland Johannessen broke away from a large leading group to lead the race into the final kilometer.

As the duo entered the final kilometer, they appeared to be faltering, with a small chasing group and Aranburu’s teammate, Ion Izagirre, threatening to close the gap. However, as the final sprint commenced, Johannessen returned to the front, inadvertently acting as the lead-out for Aranburu, who timed his acceleration perfectly to take the win.

All of my victories in the Basque Country are very special. Yesterday I was very sad and frustrated with myself, but now, I’m delighted, On the climb I tried to drop everyone, but Johannessen was very close, came back on the descent, so I decided to try and rejoin with him. I did well in the finish.

Alex Aranburu

This victory marks the third stage win for Aranburu in the Basque Country.

General Classification Impact

Paul Seixas, representing Decathlon CMA CGM, continued to assert his dominance in the 2026 edition of the race. Seixas had previously claimed the leader’s jersey after winning the opening individual time trial.

During Stage 4, Seixas maintained a defensive posture against the various attacks on the undulating terrain but transitioned to offense during a descent, where he successfully attacked to gain further time on his general classification rivals.

The stage was not without its setbacks for other contenders. Juan Ayuso was forced to abandon the race due to stomach problems.