Monday 6th until Saturday 11th of April 2026 - Bilbao - Bergara (810.1 km)

The 2026 Tour of the Basque Country will once again be a race for riders who are not only strong uphill, but also explosive enough to gain time in punchy finishes. The race runs from 6 to 11 April and consists of six stages, starting with a short individual time trial in Bilbao of 13.9 kilometres. After that come mainly hilly and demanding stages, meaning the overall classification will probably harden early in the week.

The opening day is immediately important: an individual time trial of almost 14 kilometres is long enough to create the first differences, but short enough to keep the damage limited for true climbers. In the days that follow, the Basque Country appears once again in its familiar profile: short, difficult climbs, narrow roads and a course that allows little rest. The second stage to Lekunberri, at 164.1 kilometres, is clearly a transition stage, but even there the terrain offers opportunities for attacks and late shifts in the general classification.

The third and fourth stages are also typically Basque: no flat run‑in towards a bunch sprint, but constant up and down, with finish locations such as Basauri and Eibar‑like arrivals where explosiveness is crucial. According to available race information, the parcours consists of three hilly stages, two mountain stages and one time trial, putting punchy stage racers at an advantage. The final days are traditionally the heaviest, meaning the real decision will likely come only at the weekend.

For the general classification, everything points to a battle between riders who are able to stay upright in the high mountains as well as in short, intense efforts. Juan Ayuso, Isaac del Toro and Primož Roglič are regarded as the pre‑race favourites for overall victory, although the outcome will strongly depend on form and the strength of the team.

The Tour of the Basque Country therefore remains what it has been for years: not a race for waiting stage-race riders, but for aggressive attackers with substance. Anyone who wants to win here must stay alert from day one to the final stage.

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