Sunday's Tour of Flanders, followed by Paris-Roubaix the following week, and sandwiched in between, six days of the Tour of the Basque Country: these are exciting times for cycling fans, who may indulge in a week of thrilling duels between Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Primoz Roglic. IDLProCycling.com lays it all out!
One look at the honours list of the WorldTour race in the Basque Country tells you everything you need to know: this is no ordinary event. Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard will start as the defending champion, with former teammate and two-time winner Primoz Roglic hot on his heels. In 2022, Daniel Felipe Martínez claimed victory in a race historically dominated by top Spanish cyclists. While Alberto Contador holds multiple wins, other notable names such as Samuel Sanchez, Joaquím Rodríguez, Alejandro Valverde, and Ion Izagirre also grace the illustrious list of winners.
Erik Breukink, the last Dutch winner in 1988, is unlikely to see a successor this year. The Belgians last tasted victory in 1929 with Maurice De Waele, a record that Evenepoel may have the opportunity to break.
Latest winners Tour of the Basque Country
2023 Jonas Vingegaard
2022 Daniel Felipe Martínez
2021 Primoz Roglic2020 Not ridden
2019 Ion Izagirre
2018 Primoz Roglic
2017 Alejandro Valverde
2016 Alberto Contador
2015 Joaquím Rodríguez
2014 Alberto Contador
Tour of the Basque Country 2024: Course, favorites daily wins and times
Stage 1, Monday, April 1: Irun - Irun (10 km, time trial)
The Tour of the Basque Country kicks off with a ten-kilometer individual time trial in and around Irun. We can call this anything but easy: just after the start, there is a stretch at ten percent on cobblestones, followed fairly quickly by the ascent of Olaberria (1.7 kilometers at 5.2 percent). From the summit, it is about five kilometers downhill before the last few hundred meters also incline upwards.
Climbs
4.4 km: Olabierra (1.7 km a 5.2%)
Favorites
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Primoz Roglic (BORA-hansgrohe)
Juan Ayuso (UAE-Team Emirates
Times
Start: 2:10 p.m.
Finish: 5:30 p.m.
Stage 2, Tuesday, April 2: Irun - Kanbo (160.0 km)
On day two, the riders will cover 160 kilometers of racing, which by Basque standards is relatively flat. Of course, there will be undulations throughout the day, but the major climbs will be absent. In the final kilometer, there is also a slight incline, so timing will be crucial for the sprinters or escapees vying for victory at that moment.
Climbs
19.5 km: Saint-Ignace (2.6 km a 5.9%)
Favorites
Alex Aranburu (Movistar)
Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ)
Andrea Bagioli (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 1:29 p.m.
Finish: 5:29 p.m.
Stage 3, Wednesday, April 3: Ezpeleta - Altasu (190.9 km)
Have a great day! The stage begins with a tough climb right from the start, followed by 190 kilometers and six categorized hills before arriving in Altsasu. Four of the six climbs are situated in the first half of the circuit, while the second part of the race takes place on a plateau, including one ascent. The final 15 kilometers feature a flat course.
Climbs
8.5 km: Otsondo (8.2 km a 5.7%)
59.8 km: Usategieta Gaina (11.2 km a 3.2%)
70.1 km: Uitzi (4.7 km a 6.9%)
85.5 km: Zuarrarate (6.8 km a 3.6%)
154.2 km: Olabierra (1.6 km a 7.5%)
172.5 km: Uzarrusti (6.6 km a 4.7%)
Favorites
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers)
Times
Start: 12:56 p.m.
Finish: 5:29 p.m.
Stage 4, Thursday, April 4: Etxarri Aranatz - Legutio (157.5 km)
On Thursday, we have a stage similar to Wednesday's, with the notable difference that the focal point now clearly lies in the second half of the stage. There are three climbs in the final forty kilometers, all featuring steep gradients. The last ten kilometers, perhaps as compensation, are flat.
Climbs
40.8 km: Opakuia (7.1 km a 5.8%)
118.6 km: Olaeta (1.9 km a 9.0%)
132.8 km: Untzilla (2.3 km a 8.5%)
Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Primoz Roglic (BORA-hansgrohe)
Times
Start: 1:31 p.m.
Finish: 5:30 p.m.
Stage 5, Friday, April 5: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Amorebieta-Etxano (175.9 km)
Stage 5 of the Tour of the Basque Country starts in Vitoria-Gasteiz, following a relatively gentle opening stage. However, things change dramatically from Urkiola, a 5.5-kilometer climb with an average gradient of almost ten percent. In the final stage, the route includes two additional local circuits in and around the finish town of Amorebieta-Etxano, featuring the Muniketagaina climb (3.5 km at 7.5%).
Climbs
87.8 km: Urkiola (5.5 km a 9.4%)
137.9 km: Muniketagaina (3.5 km a 7.5%)
163.7 km: Muniketagaina (3.5 km a 7.5%)
Favorites
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)
Brandon McNulty (UAE-Team Emirates)
Times
Start: 1:06 p.m.
Finish: 5:30 p.m.
Stage 6, Sunday, April 6: Eibar - Eibar (137.8 km)
Once again, the toughest challenge is being saved for last. The organizers of the Tour of the Basque Country have chosen to replicate last year's stage, where Jonas Vingegaard emerged victorious. A total of seven (!) hills must be conquered in the 137 km-long stage, promising another chaotic day of racing!
Climbs
Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
Adam Yates (UAE-Team Emirates)
Times
Start: 2:04 p.m.
Finish: 5:30 p.m.
Favorites final classification Tour of the Basque Country 2024
What an impressive field of competitors they've assembled in the Basque Country. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) stands as the top favorite, being the defending champion and a two-time winner of the Tour de France. However, even the Dane won't have it easy this year. He'll need the support of Sepp Kuss, who wasn't at his best in Catalonia, and Steven Kruijswijk.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Primoz Roglic (BORA-hansgrohe) are also participating, meaning we'll witness three of the top four Tour de France favorites in action in the Basque Country. With Mikel Landa also in the mix, it seems like a rerun of last year's Vuelta! Evenepoel already displayed his eagerness in Paris-Nice, while Roglic seemed to be playing catch-up in that race for BORA-hansgrohe. By the way, Jai Hindley is also starting in the Basque Country.
However, it's not just a three-way battle we'll be witnessing. Mattias Skjelmose is there as a leader for Lidl-Trek, gearing up for the Ardennes Classics, where Tom Pidcock takes on a similar role at INEOS Grenadiers. Both riders have the strength to tackle the Basque hills, making them formidable adversaries. Additionally, INEOS will see Carlos Rodríguez, although he hasn't been performing at his best this year.
Bahrain Victorious and UAE-Team Emirates have several contenders to watch. The Bahraini team boasts home rider Pello Bilbao and rising star Santiago Buitrago, while the Emirates team presents its usual star-studded lineup. Adam Yates is set to make his return, Juan Ayuso is in the mix, Brandon McNulty is on the provisional start list, Isaac del Toro is emerging, and the list goes on!
Moving on to the outsiders, Felix Gall of Decathlon AG2R has proven his prowess in this race, as has former Cofidis winner Ion Izagirre. Groupama-FDJ is pinning hopes on the comeback of David Gaudu and the promising talent Romain Grégoire. Simon Yates is expected to shine for Jayco AlUla, a role that Olympic champion Richard Carapaz is likely to take on at EF Education-EasyPost. Meanwhile, dsm-firmenich PostNL is banking on two contenders accustomed to high altitude: Warren Barguil and Oscar Onley.
According to IDLProCycling.com, who are the favorites for the final classification of the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country?
Top favorites:Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Outsiders:Primoz Roglic (BORA-hansgrohe), Juan Ayuso (UAE-Team Emirates), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Long shots: Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R), Adam Yates, Brandon McNulty (UAE-Team Emirates), Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe), Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) and Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ)
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
TV Tour of the Basque Country 2024
The Tour of the Basque Country can be followed on Eurosport, the Home of Cycling. They broadcast the stages of the race in the Spanish autonomous region in the afternoon.
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