Published on : 06/19/2026
The Basque rider made the difference in the final in Durbuy. An exceptional effort of talent and composure allowed him to take a narrow victory. He also takes the lead in the overall standings. This is Cofidis’ 7th win of the season, a great opportunity to maintain the strong momentum built by the team over recent months..
Alex Aranburu burst into celebration in Durbuy on Friday evening, and it was the least he could do to match what he had just achieved. This third stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour was made for him, with its climbs and relentless accelerations.
It took strength and remarkable tenacity to withstand the final effort of the day, the brutal climb where the most daring riders in the peloton settled things. Alex Aranburu was among them. Well positioned in the final 200 metres, he launched his effort, unleashed all his power and determination to come back on his rivals, drop Lewis Askey, and win in a photo finish
A victory that echoes others
Alex Aranburu adds another prestigious win to his palmarès, having already won in the same place in 2024. He showed the same fighting spirit that was seen last April at the Tour of the Basque Country. At home, last April, he also took victory there, once again after a thrilling scenario on a road that seemed to keep climbing all the way to the village of Galdakao.
With this success, Aranburu demonstrates the benefits of the training camp in the Sierra Nevada that he completed in recent weeks. Together with a team that did a tremendous amount of work, he will now focus on defending his leader’s jersey until the end of the race.
The Basque rider therefore claims the team’s 7th victory, the first since Stanislaw Aniolkowski’s win at the Tour of Turkey last April. Above all, this victory allows the team to approach what follows with confidence and calm. And that’s just as well: in less than three weeks, Alex and his teammates will ride the Tour de France with the same determination to do everything they can to win.
Reaction:
Alex Aranburu :
“I’m very happy to win again. I gave everything until the end. I felt good, I had excellent sensations, and I really wanted to go all the way. The team did a great job all day to put me in the best possible position and allow me to finish it off. Now we’ll focus on recovering well and, above all, enjoying this moment.”
Raphaël Jeune :
"I would like to congratulate Alex and, more broadly, the whole team. Over the past few weeks, all the riders have worked extremely hard to perform at the highest level and to remain ambitious in all circumstances. This victory rewards the hard work, professionalism, and commitment of both the riders and the staff. It also allows us to approach what comes next with the same determination, in order to relive these great emotions."