Rain-soaked finale sees Andrew August secure stage victory, as Paul Seixas seals dominant overall triumph
After a week of intense racing across the Basque region of Spain, the final stage of the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country delivered a dramatic conclusion over 135.2 km from Antzuola to Bergara. Heavy rain and treacherous descents added complexity, but the overall narrative remained unchanged: French prodigy Paul Seixas completed a week of total dominance to secure the general classification title.
Aggressive Racing Shapes a Fragmented Stage
The race exploded into action from the opening climb, with relentless attacks. A strong breakaway featuring Marc Soler, Ben Healy, and Mattias Skjelmose established an early advantage, pushing hard through increasingly wet and dangerous conditions.
As the stage unfolded, the race split into multiple groups:
A five-rider leading group at the front
A large chase group led by Tobias Halland Johannessen
The yellow jersey group controlling the race behind
With worsening weather, technical descents became decisive, and several riders abandoned as conditions took their toll.
Seixas Attacks, Then Rides Smart
Midway through the stage, Paul Seixas launched a powerful solo move on the climbs, briefly distancing his GC rivals and attempting to bridge to the front.
However, lacking consistent team support on the long valley roads, he made the calculated decision to drop back and rejoin a chasing group—an intelligent tactical adjustment that preserved energy and minimized risk in the hazardous conditions.
Meanwhile, Florian Lipowitz and other GC contenders tried to apply pressure, but none were able to significantly threaten Seixas’ overall lead.
August Soloes to Career-Defining Victory
With 30 km to go, the race intensified. On the final climb, American talent Andrew August launched a decisive attack, breaking clear from the front group.
Demonstrating exceptional bike handling on wet descents, he maintained his gap all the way to the finish, securing the biggest victory of his career.
Stage 6 Results:
Andrew August
Raúl García Pierna
Frank van den Broek
This victory also marked another success for INEOS Grenadiers, underlining their strong form this season.
General Classification – Seixas in Complete Control
As the yellow jersey group safely reached the finish, Paul Seixas officially claimed overall victory at the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country.
Final GC Standings:
Paul Seixas
Florian Lipowitz
Tobias Halland Johannessen
Johannessen delivered one of the standout rides of the day, climbing from 11th to 3rd overall thanks to his presence in the breakaway.
A Star Is Born
The Itzulia Basque Country will be remembered as the race where Paul Seixas announced himself on the world stage.
With three stage victories, the overall title, and wins in the points, mountains, and young rider classifications, he achieved a rare clean sweep. More than just physical strength, his composure and tactical maturity in brutal conditions marked him out as a future star of the sport.
This week didn’t just crown a winner—it introduced a new leader of cycling’s next generation.
