Five race stages are set to include it in their final kilometres, offering time bonuses.
After its success at the 2025 Giro d’Italia, Red Bull heads to the Itzulia to bring fresh energy to the race and reinforce its status as the must-have drink for cyclists and fans alike.
Itzulia Basque Country and Red Bull have reached a strategic agreement to include the Red Bull KM in the next edition of the race. The initiative will feature in five stages during the final kilometres of each day’s race.
The Red Bull KM will introduce an intermediate point in the race, with a direct impact on the general classification. The first three riders to cross this point will receive time bonuses of 6, 4 and 2 seconds, respectively.
Its positioning towards the end of each stage is designed to influence their outcome and promote movement among the leading contenders. The organisers have therefore introduced a new competitive element to complement those already featured in the event.
Javier Riaño, president of OCETA, welcomed the new partnership, stating: “Red Bull has joined the Itzulia to enhance the spectacle and the fight for victory.” With this new synergy, the Itzulia is taking a step forward in sporting and innovation terms,” he added.”
With this agreement, the Itzulia Basque Country continues to expand its sporting infrastructure and strengthen partnerships with organisations connected to sport, while Red Bull aims to promote its global vision: to be the energy drink of choice for cycling performance, supporting riders during the most demanding moments and standing with fans who share their passion for the sport.
The Red Bull KM
Aiming to enhance the strategic dimension of the race and add a daily element of excitement, this year’s edition, running from 6 to 11 April, will feature the Red Bull KM in five of its six stages. Featuring an intermediate sprint that will have a direct impact on the general classification, establishing itself as one of the race’s major sporting highlights.
The first three riders to cross the Red Bull KM will be awarded time bonuses of six, four, and two seconds, respectively. This new point in the race joins the stage finish – where the winner earns a 10-second time bonus – as a decisive factor in the fight for the general classification.
With this initiative, the Red Bull KM becomes a new strategic element in the race, prompting teams to adopt more ambitious tactics, especially regarding breakaways and competition for bonus points.
At the same time, both the breakaway riders and the main peloton will have an added incentive to increase the pace and deliver a more exciting spectacle for the fans, further intensifying the thrill of the race. eta zaleei ikuskizun handiagoa eskaintzeko. Hori dela eta, are zirraragarriagoa izango da lasterketa.
