Del Toro unleashes unstoppable attack after Ayuso's lead-out to win Circuito de Getxo in Spain

The 80th edition of the Circuito de Getxo, also known as the Memorial Hermanos Otxoa, is yet another Basque one-day race in this period. The relatively short race started in Bilbao and covered 172 kilometers to Getxo. The course consisted of two different laps, always passing the finish line in Getxo. The finish in the seaside resort just outside Bilbao is tricky every year, with an uphill final kilometer.

After a good ten kilometers, a leading group of ten riders formed. It included Rory Townsend (Q36.5), Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies), Gari Ugarte (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis). The early breakaway gained just under three minutes on the peloton.

UAE Emirates-XRG led the chase, with Domen Novak at the front. However, halfway through the race, the first attacks began. This was mainly due to the Alto Pike (2 km at 9.6%). On this steep climb, with maximum gradients of 13.5%, the first riders had to let go, and riders at the front of the peloton pulled away. However, it would take until 50 kilometers from the finish before we saw a real attack for the win.

And that attack came from the peloton. A small group broke away on the other climb: the Alto Akarlanda (4.5 km at 2.1%). Julian Bernard, Quinn Simmons (both Lidl-Trek), and Orluis Aular (Movistar) managed to escape. The trio joined the leaders shortly afterwards, after which Simmons and Aular managed to get ahead together when they heard the bell. At UAE, it was all hands on deck, with no riders at the front or in the chasing group.

Just before the final climb of the day, the Alto Pike, Simmons and Aular still had a lead of around twenty seconds. Meanwhile, UAE received help from the French teams TotalEnergies and Cofidis, which closed the gap. The peloton caught sight of the duo halfway up the steep climb. That was the signal to close the gap.

The UAE's golden duo, Juan Ayuso and Isaac Del Toro, made their move just as Simmons and Aular were caught. Ayuso accelerated, followed by Del Toro just below the summit. The Mexican reached the top alone, with Ayuso in a chasing group behind him. The Spaniard was joined by Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) and Toms Skujins and Hector Alvarez (both Lidl-Trek). After the breakaway, Del Toro had a lead of just under 20 seconds on the quartet behind him.

Ayuso did not join the chase, of course, with his teammate Del Toro maintaining his lead at the front. Del Toro's lead only grew, allowing the Mexican climbing talent to cross the finish line solo. In the battle for position, there were numerous attacks, but everyone kept an eye on each other. Ayuso managed to win the sprint for second place, just ahead of Aranburu.