Favorites stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025 | Will we see big shake-ups again in the brutal final stage?
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Follow us on GoogleAfter another tricky course on Friday, Saturday brings the grand finale of the Tour of the Basque Country. In the final stage around Eibar, riders will get one last chance to shine in the Basque hills. Will the overall classification be decided on the final day? IDLProCycling.com tells you everything you need to know
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Route stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025
By now, the final stage to and from Eibar has become a tradition in the Tour of the Basque Country and rightfully so. The route is spectacular and, on paper, the toughest stage of the week. It may be only 153 kilometers long, but it packs a punch with 3,700 meters of elevation gain. That means we’re in for some classic climbing in the hills around the Basque city. Last year, the race also finished in Eibar, and it was Juan Ayuso who delivered a decisive blow by taking the leader’s jersey from Mattias Skjelmose. This year could easily bring even bigger changes.
The toughest section of the stage actually comes early. Right off the bat, riders face the Elkorrieta climb (2.6 km at 6.7%), followed immediately by the Azuki (5.1 km at 7.4%), which features a particularly steep middle section. These two early climbs are followed by the hardest of the day: the Krabelin, a brutal 5-kilometer ascent averaging 9.6%.
In the middle section follow the Trabakua and the climb to Karabieta, after which the finale opens with the steep climb to Izua (4.1 km at 9.2%). That climb was already included in the course: João Almeida rushed away from his competitors there on Thursday. The last categorized climb is a new ascent to Trabakua, after which the riders will rush to the finish on undulating terrain.
Climbs
13,5 km: Elkorrieta (2,6 km at 6,7%)
24,9 km: Azuki (5,1 km at 7,4%)
46,6 km: Krabelin (5 km at 9,6%)
68,7 km: Trabakua (3,3 km at 7,1%)
88,2 km: Karabieta (6,6 km at 6,7%)
115,6 km: Izua (4,1 km at 9,2)
135,4 km: Trabakua (3,3 km at 7,1%)
Times
Start: 1:39 PM (local time) | 7:39 AM (EDT)
Finish: approx. 5:30 PM (local time) | 11:30 AM (EDT)
.Weather stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025
Riders could be in for an unpleasant surprise on Saturday, with a 95% chance of rain in the forecast. Temperatures will remain pleasant, peaking at 21°C in the afternoon. A light breeze is expected but shouldn’t play a significant role in the race.
Favorites stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025
Who wins the final stage in Eibar largely depends on how the race unfolds. With plenty still up for grabs in the general classification, we can expect the GC contenders to go on the attack. So far, João Almeida looks tough to beat. He also has the advantage of a superb domestique in Isaac Del Toro. And if it comes down to a sprint, the Mexican rider from UAE Team Emirates–XRG is one of the faster finishers.
Who poses the biggest threat to the GC leader? That looks to be Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe). The German is only 38 seconds behind and will likely see opportunities in this final stage. While Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) may pose less danger for the GC, the Spanish champion is racing close to home and has been one of the strongest riders in recent stages. He’s climbing better than ever and has a strong sprint, definitely one to watch!
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Favorites stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com
Top favorite: João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates - XRG)
Outsiders:Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) en Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG)
Long shots: Enric Mas (Movistar), Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), Wilco Kelderman (visma | Lease a Bike), Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers), Clément Champoussin, Simone Velasco (XDS Astana), Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost) en Thibau Nys
Outsiders:Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) en Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG)
Long shots: Enric Mas (Movistar), Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), Wilco Kelderman (visma | Lease a Bike), Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers), Clément Champoussin, Simone Velasco (XDS Astana), Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost) en Thibau Nys
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- Eight riders told to go for stages, and nobody gets one—hard to know what the plan was there. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pick a clear leader next time.bikebuffj10-11-2026
- Was Bernal’s 20th place really their best GC result? I thought he might have finished higher. Either way, it sounds like a rough Tour for the whole team.gearguru3310-11-2026
- Five days in breaks with no stage win is a painful stat. The team had chances, but they need to turn those opportunities into results.julien10-11-2026
- The Onley Vuelta example makes sense: a team with someone to rally around often looks much more cohesive. Hopefully INEOS can build on that rather than expecting a quick return to the Sky years.cadencekingm10-11-2026
- Thomas is right about the ambiguity. Eight riders all chasing stages can end up pulling in different directions, even if nobody’s deliberately working against anyone. They need a clearer plan once the GC leaders are out.robert6510-11-2026
- What a mess. The report makes it sound as though nobody properly explained the decision, and that’s hard to defend.jennifer1910-11-2026
- I’m still learning the rules: does moving left in a sprint automatically bring a penalty, or does it depend on whether the other rider is blocked? It sounds like Brand wasn’t impeded here.patriciaw10-11-2026
- A final decision still needs a proper explanation. If the federation’s complaint goes nowhere, I hope the officials at least review how they handled the riders afterwards.michael5410-11-2026
- Fair play to Lucinda for saying Marie had won fair and square. That kind of sportsmanship matters, especially after such a controversial decision.raceready710-11-2026
- Schreiber beat Brand on the road, so the jury needed to explain clearly why that slight deviation warranted relegation. Being cut off before she could give her account sounds appalling.lindae10-11-2026