- The race is set to start at the Buesa Arena with an individual time trial
- Unprecedented start from Urduña and a return to Gernika after 26 years
- The 64rd edition of the Itzulia Basque Country is set to cover 870.20 km
13 February 2025. The official route for the Itzulia 2025 was unveiled today at a media presentation event. The event was held at the press room of the Buesa Arena, which will host the stage one start and finish. The 64th edition will start with an individual time trial in the area surrounding Vitoria-Gasteiz. The 6 days of competition will cover a large part of the territory and visit new locations.
OCETA and Roberto Polanco, Marketing Director of the Baskonia-Alavés Group, presented the route for the Itzulia 2025, which will run from 7 to 12 April and cover 870,20 km. The route will cross Alava, Navarre, Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia, and then return to Gipuzkoa, in that order, and finish in the centre of Eibar.
Roberto Polanco, Marketing Director of the Baskonia-Alavés Group, commented at the presentation that “it is an honour for the Baskonia-Alavés Group to be part of the Itzulia, an emblematic race that reflects the passion and spirit of our land.W e are delighted to support cycling, a sport that shares our values of effort, teamwork and self-improvement. We wish this edition every success, and for a spectacular race for all to enjoy”.
The organisers have emphasised that ‘the route is very open, and the race may not be decided on the final day, including trick stages where the favourites will have to be attentive and not hold anything back’. ‘We are delighted to have a partner such as BKNDA Group to kick off this edition. More and more companies are looking to become involved with Itzulia, which is good for cycling’. Regarding participation, ‘it’s too early to say as we are yet to receive the entries, but we are sure that it’ll be a great spectacle as usual, regardless’.
This edition will include 27 scoring mountain passes: Four Category 1, two Category 2, and twenty-one Category 3. Points will be awarded for stage finishes (10″, 6″, 4″) and intermediate sprints (3″, 2″, 1″).
Stage descriptions:
Stage 1: BUESA-ARENA/VITORIA-GASTEIZ 18.70 km (ITT)
Itzulia 2025 will start with an individual time trial as was the case last year. An 18.70 km stage with the start and finish at the Buesa Arena stadium in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The first half of the stage includes several steep climbs which may highlight certain small differences. The steep climb to the village of Arzubiaga will be a scoring stage and decide the first winner of the mountain jersey. The terrain is favourable from Libiano, making this section the fastest and most favourable for specialists.
The stage is not expected to produce big differences between the favourites but will nonetheless decide the first rider to lead the Itzulia 2025.
Stage 2: PAMPLONA-IRUÑA/ LODOSA 199.60 km
The longest stage this year, at almost 200 km. The entire stage traverses Navarre, from Iruña to Lodosa. The stage will include constant climbs and descents, but just one Category 3 pass. Barring a surprise breakaway, the stage could be decided by a sprint.
Stage 3: ZARAUTZ/BEASAIN 156.30 km
This could be a decisive stage, together with stage 6. After two relatively easy stages, a tough day awaits involving 7 mountain passes with continuous climbs and descents, despite not a very long route. The mountain passes are not too hard in and of themselves, 5 of which are Category 3, but they will certainly take their toll on the cyclists’ legs over the final kilometres.
Stage 4: BEASAIN/MARKINA-XEMEIN 169.60 km
No respite as the race arrives in Bizkaia after 3 stages. The cyclists will once again encounter 7 mountain passes, including the Category 1 Izua pass. A climb that will undoubtedly decide who wins the stage and even make a difference in the general classification. The climb will not follow the main road nor the Krabelin to Arrate ascent but depart from the Matsaria industrial estate on a very narrow road between farmhouses with 20% gradients.
Stage 5: URDUÑA/GERNIKA 172,40 km
The fifth stage arrives in the town of Pello Bilbao, Gernika. The Bahrain-Victorious rider has been involved in its design. After the start, the route will head towards Amurrio and then back to Urduña, before leaving for Gernika. Along the way, the riders will have to overcome 4 mountain passes and position themselves well in sections of the last part of the route if they want to clinch the stage.
Stage 6: EIBAR/EIBAR 153.40 km
Eibar will once again host the final stage, with both the start and finish lines located in Plaza Unzaga. With 7 mountain passes, 3 of which are Category 3, over the more than 150 km route. This year, the very hard climb to Krabelin will happen at the beginning of the stage, so an attack from afar to win the txapela cannot be ruled out. Major changes compared to 2024 involve two climbs to Trabakua, the elimination of Gorla and the addition of Karabieta to reach Bergara. Undoubtedly a very lively stage that will decide who wins the Itzulia 2025.
