The opening stage of the Itzulia 2026, a demanding 13.8-kilometer time trial, commenced near the Basilica of Begoña. Adding to the course's difficulty was a scorching sun that equally affected riders, spectators, and tourists. Many fans sought refuge in the shade of Bizkaia's patron saint to escape the high temperatures.
The timing, coinciding with the last day of Holy Week and a public holiday for most, transformed Bilbao into a cycling town. Fans lined the right bank of the estuary and the roadsides of Artxanda, but the preferred location was Etxebarria Park, where the finish line was situated. There, Plaza del Gas gave way to ramps with gradients of up to 19%, turning it into a true inferno for the cyclists.
The intense heat made the chimney of Etxebarria Park, the last vestige of an industrial past, appear like a mirage in the desert to the cyclists. This 25-meter brick tower became the beacon signaling the finish line, and it was there that Bilbao witnessed Paul Seixas transform a sandy finish into an oasis, swallowing up Isaac Del Toro (UAE) and Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek).
Basque fans are known for their respect and encouragement, but also for their clear preference for local cyclists. Thus, the Euskaltel-Euskadi team bus was one of the best-escorted, and its location in the shade of the Zumalakarregi Avenue bridge was pure coincidence. Txomin Juaristi and Jonathan Lastra had company while warming up, and Iker Mintegi and Gotzon Martín leveraged the crowd's support to conquer the final challenging curve. The fields of Etxebarria Park took on an intense orange hue, the color of the most indigenous Basque cycling.
However, it was veterans like Ion Izagirre (facing his last Itzulia), Pello Bilbao, and Mikel Landa who delighted those present. Bilbao recognized their titanic effort in the home race, under a clear sky unusual for Bizkaia in April. They competed on the roads of their childhood, where they dreamed of becoming professionals, with ambition and, at the same time, nostalgia, in front of family, friends, and the entire city of Bilbao.
Nevertheless, the Bizkaia capital also acknowledged the impressive record of Primoz Roglic and the fresh energy brought by Paul Seixas, who soared over Artxanda. Not a single one of the 154 riders went without encouragement, a feat that only the most dedicated fans managed to sustain without complaint in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.
