Basque climber and leading activist Pello Bilbao (36) to retire at the end of 2026

Pello Bilbao will say goodbye to professional cycling at the end of the 2026 season. The 36-year-old Spaniard is leaving the sport after sixteen seasons. It also means he is competing in his final Tour of the Basque Country: Saturday will be the last time he races his home tour.

Bilbao turned professional in 2011 with Euskaltel-Euskadi. "For me, it always felt like a game at the beginning," he says on the website of his team Bahrain Victorious. "I was just playing at being a cyclist with my friends, and suddenly I found myself turning professional almost without noticing. Everything came very fast. Of course, I needed time to adapt to the professional lifestyle—it wasn’t easy at the start, especially balancing it with my studies—but I have never regretted any decision I made along the way."

After a stint at Caja Rural, he returned to the WorldTour with Astana. That is where he began winning big races, such as stages in the Giro d'Italia and a stage in the Dauphiné. "Each year, I was able to take a step forward. I went from being an unknown rider, someone who didn’t even believe he could last long in professional cycling, to achieving big results in the biggest races."

In 2023, he won a stage in the Tour de France. "Winning at the Tour de France was something every cyclist dreams of. That moment showed me how intense and emotional this sport can be. In fact, during the Grand Départ in 2023, some of my worst and best memories came together. It was a difficult time, but from that difficulty came one of the most beautiful victories and memories of my career."

After three years at Astana, Bahrain Victorious snapped him up. There he found his new home. In his seven years with the team, he won not only at the Tour, but also in the Tour Down Under and the Tour of the Basque Country. He also finished second in the 2023 Clásica San Sebastián, behind Remco Evenepoel, and took silver in the GP Montréal.

He finished fifth in the Giro d'Italia twice and ended up sixth in the 2023 Tour de France. But even more important than his results was his activism. Following in the footsteps of his late friend and teammate Gino Mäder, he campaigned for climate action and spoke out in support of the pro-Palestinian protests at last year's Vuelta a España, among other causes.

For Bilbao, there were always more important things than winning. 'Of course, results are important, especially for the team, but I will always cherish moments like the ones I shared with Damiano Caruso in the Giro d'Italia — attacking together, fighting for the victory and ultimately helping him achieve something special. Those are the moments I will never forget.'

And so a rich career comes to an end. "Coming into my final season, everything feels different. In some races, I’ve even felt more nervous than usual, knowing it could be the last time I experience them. Every race, every moment feels more significant. I just want to show people what I am capable of, one last time."

The experienced Spaniard is already saying farewell to 'his' Basque Country this Saturday, but his final race has yet to be decided. "It’s going to be a special season. I want to finish it in the best possible way—whether that means achieving a special result or simply doing my job well and helping to create great racing, like we did in that Giro.

The Basque clearly knows this is the year to call time on his long career, not a decision every riders gets to make themselves. "It has truly been a pleasure, and at the end of this season, it’s time to say goodbye. I know I will miss cycling in many ways, but I also understand how demanding it is to keep performing at the highest level year after year. It takes a huge amount of energy, and the new generation is coming through stronger than ever. For me, cycling is something you should do 100%. And when you can no longer give 100%, it’s time to move on and start a new chapter.”