EIBAR, Spain – Stage 5 of the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country delivered on its billing as the "Queen Stage," featuring a demanding 176.2 km route around Eibar with a brutal 3,841 meters of elevation gain and eight categorized climbs. The day proved decisive in shaping the final overall classification, as the 19-year-old French phenom Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) continued his extraordinary dominance.
The race began aggressively, with Baptiste Veistroffer launching an early solo attack and briefly leading the field while collecting the first KOM points. As the race progressed, a large breakaway group of over 20 riders formed, including notable names such as Ben Healy, Marc Soler, and Stage 4 winner Alex Aranburu.
However, the decisive moves came in the second half of the stage. As the peloton intensified the pace, the yellow jersey group, led by Seixas, began to reel in the breakaway. On the brutal slopes of the Alto de Izua, where gradients average close to 10%, Florian Lipowitz launched a powerful attack. Seixas responded immediately, and the two riders quickly distanced the rest of the contenders, including a struggling Primož Roglič.
From there, the race evolved into a tactical duel between Seixas and Lipowitz. The pair worked together over the final climbs and descents, maintaining a narrow but decisive advantage over the chasing groups. Despite several attempts from behind to destabilize their cooperation, both riders remained committed to the move, ensuring they would contest the stage victory between them.
Heading into the final kilometers, the gap to the chasers remained stable, setting up a high-stakes two-man sprint finish. Lipowitz led into the final kilometer, positioning himself well. However, Seixas timed his effort perfectly; launching his sprint in the closing meters, he surged past Lipowitz to take a convincing victory—his third stage win of the 2026 edition.
Behind them, Javier Romo attacked from the chase group to secure third place, finishing approximately one minute later, while Kévin Vauquelin won the sprint for fourth.
This victory further cements Seixas’ dominance in the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country. His climbing strength, tactical awareness, and finishing speed have set him apart throughout the week, making him the overwhelming favorite for the overall title as the race heads into its decisive final stages.
