Published on : 04/10/2026
Building on the team’s current momentum, Ion Izagirre finished 5th on Stage 5 of the Tour of the Basque Country. With one stage remaining, he is 4th in the general classification.
The Cofidis team once again showed an aggressive approach on Stage 5 of the Tour of the Basque Country. Around Eibar, Alex Aranburu slipped into the breakaway. When the battle among the general classification leaders began, Ion Izagirre showed his strength to claim 5th place at the finish line. On the eve of the final showdown, he is 4th in the general classification, 10 seconds off the podium.
The reaction
Gorka Gerrikagoitia, sports director: "With 180 km and over 4,000 meters of climbing, this was the toughest stage of the race, but we’re familiar with it since we ride it every year. The first selection happened during the early climbs, and the second at Izua, 30 km from the finish. Ion Izagirre went with the strongest riders. Alex Aranburu wasn’t far behind. We finished 5th on the stage, which is good. We’re 4th in the general classification. Ion is strong. Alex was in the breakaway to thin the pack a bit, to have someone up front. We hope to finish this race tomorrow without any issues because we have the level to finish in the Top 5 at GC. "