15.05.2025 World-Tour, News, Race news

BASQUE BATTLES INCOMING AT ITZULIA WOMEN

After Wednesday’s rewarding tune-up in Navarra, where Soraya Paladin sprinted to second place, the team shifts slightly northwest to the Basque Country for Itzulia Women, kicking off just two sleeps later.

Five riders from Navarra – Wilma Aintila, Ricarda Bauernfeind, Antonia Niedermaier, Soraya Paladin, and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, will be joined by Justyna Czapla for the three-day WorldTour stage race, covering a total of 377 kilometres.

Looking supremely strong in Wednesday’s race, especially when the road went up, Antonia heads into the weekend feeling quietly confident.

“I think we have a really strong team and can achieve something great there. I’m optimistic and looking forward to the race. Personally, I hope to go well in the GC and help the team fight for a stage win. We should race brave and offensively – Itzulia is well-suited to us. I’ve never done it before, so I’m curious to see how it see how it will be. For sure, it’s a beautiful area.”

The first edition of Itzulia Women took place in 2022 and has since followed a similar three-day format: two opening stages on varied terrain that favour small-medium bunch sprints or breakaways, followed by a finale around San Sebastián that mirrors the men’s one-day Clásica San Sebastián.

For 2024, the race shortens day by day:

– Stage 1 opens with the longest and hardest route on paper – 148.3km and 2022m of elevation.

– Stage 2 drops to 116.1km but retains serious climbing, with 1956m of elevation.

– Stage 3 decreases again on both fronts but is the most pivotal of the trio, taking in the coastal mountains of San Sebastián.

While stage one has the biggest numbers, the climbing is more evenly distributed. Three categorised ascents feature tame gradients, the toughest being the 7.1km Opakua (5.8%), which crests with 65km to go. A shorter, shallower climb follows at 22km to go. For fast finishers, the day can be manageable or retrievable if need be. The final 3km feature five roundabouts and a 90-degree turn, which could prove more decisive than the 145km that comes before.

Stage two brings steeper, sharper efforts, with the real damage easiest to do early. Bikotxgane (3km at 9%) and Lamindao (2.4km at 9.9%) come back-to-back within the first 40km, both followed by technical, twisty descents. From there, the climbing softens and is broken up by long valley roads, although pockets of narrow Basque lanes with double-digit ramps still remain – perfect for daring surprises.

Stage three will reward patience and smart riding from the earlier two days. The course weaves in a triple-figure-eight formation, darting between hills and in through valleys, taking in gently rolling climbs that are dwarfed by two key features:

– The Jaizkibel (7.9km at 5.5%), an iconic landmark directly east of San Sebastián, which is also considered by some as the westernmost mountain of the Pyrenees. It rises up at the 35km mark.

– The Mendizorrotz (6.4km at 5.3%) tops out with just 11km to go, on the mountainous outcrop directly to the west of the city.

Don’t be fooled by the averages – both climbs have sting-in-the-leg stretches and form the main GC selection points. From the summit of Mendizorrotz, it’s a fast roll along a sea-adjacent whaleback ridge before plunging down to the iconic La Concha promenade, where riders will charge through the final two kilometres into central San Sebastián, likely in very small fragments.

The Basque Country is well known for its impressive rainfall which can make for dicey, demanding racing, but at time of writing, the weather looks to be behaving and the region may deliver its best.

A unique prize awaits the overall winner: a txapela – the traditional Basque beret, soft and woolen, and a cultural emblem worn by champions across disciplines. Who wouldn’t want to be donning one of those in San Sebastián on Sunday?

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live coverage starts at 12:00 CET each day on Eurosport, Discovery+, TNT Sports, and EITB. Stay updated on X via #ItzuliaWomen2025, and follow CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto’s social channels for the latest team updates.

Overview