{"id":517626,"date":"2026-04-07T13:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T13:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/517626\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T13:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T13:01:12","slug":"itzulia-basque-country-stage-2-live-strong-seven-man-break-forms-on-hilly-first-road-stage-of-the-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/517626\/","title":{"rendered":"Itzulia Basque Country stage 2 LIVE – Strong seven-man break forms on hilly first road stage of the race"},"content":{"rendered":"

Refresh <\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:56:44.109Z<\/p>\n

Even Paul Seixas himself sounded a little taken aback by how good his performance at yesterday\u2019s time trial was. He\u2019s now the frontrunner for overall victory, but doesn\u2019t want to overhype his chances, describing himself merely as \u201cbeing in the running\u201d for the title.<\/p>\n

‘I didn’t expect to win by such a margin’ \u2013 A time trial triumph for Paul Seixas as he carves out first WorldTour stage victory and claims leader’s jersey at Itzulia Basque Country<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:51:16.235Z<\/p>\n

The gradient kicks up now for the final 4km to the summit, from the false flat they have been riding up to 5%.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:49:44.983Z
\n120KM TO GO<\/p>\n

As they continue to climb to the unclassified summit of Puerto de Lizarraga, the gap remains steady, hovering at around two minutes.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:45:36.927Z<\/p>\n

Decathlon have taken on the responsibility of leading the peloton, for their leader in the yellow jersey. It’s a rare position the team find themselves in, but one that will likely become more common the longer they retain the services of Paul Seixas.<\/p>\n

\n

\"LEKUNBERRI,\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:37:55.067Z<\/p>\n

The kind of terrain they\u2019re taking on at the moment is typical of the Basque Country. It\u2019s not a classified climb, but the road has been going up for almost 10km, and will continue doing so, with varying gradients, for about another 10km.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:32:52.002Z
\n130KM TO GO<\/p>\n

The gap between the peloton and the breakaway has come down a bit, to 2:15, as they climb an uncategorised rise.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:31:58.269Z<\/p>\n

Paul Seixas in yellow, safely in the peloton.<\/p>\n

\n

\"LEKUNBERRI,\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:26:41.298Z<\/p>\n

Here are the updated virtual KOM rankings. Bou takes over the lead from Seixas, who had led by setting the fastest time at the top of the climb during yesterday’s time trial:<\/p>\n

1 Bou 6 points<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2 Mintegi 4 points<\/p>\n

3 Seixas 3 points<\/p>\n

4 Fajardo 2 points<\/p>\n

5 Mollema 2 points<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:24:16.371Z<\/p>\n

Incidentally, Joan Bou was the first rider to the summit of the Alto de Etxauri, meaning he leads the virtual mountains classification with 6 points. Mintegi took 4 points by being second, and Fajardo 2 points in third.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:18:12.170Z<\/p>\n

It\u2019s another warm, sunny day in the Basque Country, with no threat of any rain.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:16:51.821Z
\n140KM TO GO<\/p>\n

The breakaway has a healthy lead of 2:35, as they reach the bottom of the descent.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:14:48.680Z<\/p>\n

\n

\"LEKUNBERRI,\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:10:20.550Z<\/p>\n

At last, Armirail and Garc\u00eda Pierna have made the juncture on the descent. We have a new leading group of seven.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:04:03.696Z
\nKOM – ALTO DE ETXAURI <\/p>\n

The leaders are descending having crested the climb, the two chasers trailing by about 30 seconds, and the peloton by over two and a half minutes.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T12:02:14.627Z<\/p>\n

\n

\"LEKUNBERRI,\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:59:14.065Z
\n150KM TO GO<\/p>\n

The two still chasers still have to catch up to the leaders, however. As they near the summit of the climb, they’re still 45 seconds behind.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:57:44.885Z<\/p>\n

The time gap between the peloton and the leaders is now being reported at a much bigger distant, to over two minutes. That suggests the peloton is happy to let both the leaders and the chasers get up the road.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:54:43.850Z<\/p>\n

As a result, the leading five’s advantage has been reduced too, down from about 1:30 to 50 seconds.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:54:15.616Z<\/p>\n

The peloton appear less happy to let this pair go. They’ve upped the pace and are keeping them at just five seconds.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:51:26.005Z<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t done yet. Two riders have jumped out of the peloton hoping to catch up to the leaders, and they\u2019re a strong pair – Bruno Armirail and Ra\u00fal Garc\u00eda Pierna.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:50:21.033Z<\/p>\n

The riders making their way through the streets of Pamplona at the start, more famous for bulls roaming through it than hoards of cyclists.<\/p>\n

\n

\"PAMPLONA-IRUNA,\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:45:24.114Z<\/p>\n

Fajardo has made the junction. With the peloton seemingly happy about the personnel in this group, they’re not having to ride this climb too hard.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:44:00.503Z<\/p>\n

The break is growing its lead on the climb, up to 1:20. Fajardo is still chasing behind, with 10 seconds to make up.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:40:42.254Z<\/p>\n

As they start the climb, the leading four have built a big lead already, of almost a minute. Unless more riders want to use the climb to get into the break, this could be the day\u2019s break formed.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:38:12.186Z<\/p>\n

Adri\u00e1n Fajardo is chasing that quartet trying to join them.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:37:14.337Z<\/p>\n

Four new riders have attacked – Hayter, Van den Broeck, Mintegi and Bou.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:36:33.027Z<\/p>\n

The stage begins with a few kilometres of flat, but very soon they\u2019ll be climbing, up the category two Alto de Etxauri (6.6km at 6.6%). That will shape the kind of riders who will be able to get into the break today – put simply, they have to be good at climbing.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:34:10.672Z<\/p>\n

Four riders have attacked already, but all brought back.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:33:06.507Z
\nOFFICIAL START<\/p>\n

And they’re off!<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:32:19.876Z<\/p>\n

\n

\"PAMPLONA-IRUNA,\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:26:23.716Z<\/p>\n

Paul Seixas in the yellow jersey this morning before the start.<\/p>\n

\n

\"PAMPLONA-IRUNA,\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:23:04.883Z<\/p>\n

The riders are moving through the neutralised section in Pamplona. Not long before they\u2019ll see the flag.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:18:47.227Z<\/p>\n

To catch up with everything that happened during yesterday\u2019s stage, have a read of our full race report.<\/p>\n

Itzulia Basque Country: Paul Seixas pours on the power to win individual time trial opener and claim leader’s jersey<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:13:30.695Z<\/p>\n

There will, therefore, be no time for Paul Seixas to enjoy a simple day on his first day wearing the overall leader\u2019s jersey. As impressive as he was in yesterday\u2019s time trial, this will be a new test for him as he learns more and more about racing at World Tour level.<\/p>\n

\n

\"BILBAO,\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)
\n<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:06:13.969Z<\/p>\n

Averaging 7.8% for 9.4km, the San Miguel de Aralar is certainly hard enough to cause time gaps, even if there is some distance between its summit to the finish at Lekunberri.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T11:04:00.846Z<\/p>\n

The final climb will be San Miguel de Aralar, crested just under 20km from the finish. It\u2019s new to Itzulia Basque Country, but did feature at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a in 2020<\/a>, when Marc Soler attacked out of a small group of favourites on the descent to solo to victory.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T10:59:13.307Z<\/p>\n

This second stage of Itzulia Basque Country is no simple transition to ease the riders back into road racing following yesterday\u2019s time trial opener. Instead, this is a tough day in the Basque hills, featuring a category one climb towards the finish that will draw the GC contenders out into a fight.<\/p>\n

2026-04-07T10:52:18.685Z<\/p>\n

Hello and welcome to stage two of Itzulia Basque Country!<\/p>\n

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