The 2026 Itzulia Basque Country will open with a demanding 13.8-kilometer individual time trial through the streets of Bilbao, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense week of racing in the Basque region. The opening stage will begin at 14:30 CET and feature 225 vertical meters of climbing, culminating in a brutal 500-meter ramp averaging 9% gradient to the finish.

Challenging Course Profile

The time trial route will start and finish in Bilbao, taking riders through the city’s undulating terrain before the decisive final climb. The 9% gradient on the closing ramp will separate the pure time trialists from the climbers, making this opening stage a unique test that could significantly impact the overall classification from day one.

Del Toro’s Time Trial Challenge

Isaac del Toro will roll down the start ramp at 17:17 CET as UAE Team Emirates’ leader for the race. The Mexican rider faces a significant challenge in the opening stage, as time trialing is not considered his strongest discipline. Del Toro will need to limit his losses against the specialists while positioning himself for the mountain stages that better suit his climbing abilities.

The final ramp’s steep gradient could work in del Toro’s favor, as his climbing prowess may help minimize time gaps that pure time trialists might otherwise establish on flatter terrain. His performance today will be crucial in determining how much ground he needs to make up in the subsequent mountain stages.

Key Contenders and Broadcast Information

The stage will likely favor riders who excel in both time trialing and climbing, with the final ramp serving as the decisive factor. Strong time trialists with climbing ability will be the ones to watch as they attempt to establish early advantages in the general classification.

Spanish fans can follow the action live on Eurosport and HBO Max, while international coverage will provide global audiences the opportunity to witness the opening salvo of this prestigious WorldTour event.

The stage promises to deliver immediate drama as riders tackle one of the most challenging opening time trials on the calendar, setting up an intriguing battle for the first leader’s jersey in the Basque Country.