Tour of the Basque Country returns with steep climbs and a sharp time trial once won by Roglič
The organizers of the Tour of the Basque Country have revealed the route for the upcoming edition (April 6-11). The six-day stage race starts with a challenging time trial in Bilbao. The other stages also feature significant climbing.
On the first day of the Tour of the Basque Country, the riders will face a tough individual time trial in Bilbao. The 13.9-kilometer course is identical to the one used for the opening time trial in 2021. This means a strong climb of about two kilometers at roughly seven percent average gradient right from the start, followed by a long descent, and finally a sharp final climb. Five years ago, Primoz Roglic, the eventual overall winner, struck decisively here.
Climbing, climbing, and more climbing
The opening time trial will already create initial gaps; on day two, riders can either extend those gaps or try to close them. The stage from Pamplona-Iruña to Cuevas de Mendukilo includes nearly 3,300 meters of elevation gain and features a serious climb in the finale: the San Miguel de Aralar (9.5 km at 7.7%). The summit lies just under twenty kilometers from the finish, which is reached after one last short ascent.
The third stage seems a bit more forgiving at first glance, but with over 2,800 meters of climbing in 152.8 kilometers, it won't be an easy day either. Moreover, the finish in Basauri also features a tough uphill stretch. The same applies to the fourth stage, which finishes in Galdakao. Before reaching there, riders must overcome seven categorized climbs. The Legina climb (3.2 km at 8%) is the last obstacle in this typically Basque stage.
Izua
Speaking of typically Basque stages: stages five and six also showcase the characteristic sharp "shark tooth" profiles. In stage five, with both start and finish in Eibar, riders face no fewer than eight categorized climbs. Urkagei (5.2 km at 4.7%) is the final climb, but the Izua (4.1 km at 9.2%), about 25 kilometers from the finish, is likely to cause even more splits.
For the sixth and final stage, the organizers have chosen somewhat longer climbs again. In the relatively short stage — a 135-kilometer route — the riders must tackle the Elosua climb twice (7.2 km at 7.5%). The Asentzio (7.3 km)
