Six athletes will compete head-to-head in the final, two of whom are from the Urola Kosta region: Andoni Iruretagoiena Izeta VI.a from Aia, aiming for his fifth championship; and Xabat Olaizola from Zarautz, competing for his first title. They will be joined by Julen Kañamares from Arostegi (Navarra), Beñat Telleria from Mutiloa (Gipuzkoa), Ioritz Gisasola Zelai IV.a from Mallabia (Bizkaia), and Jokin Urretabizkaia Basozabal from Donostia. The final was presented yesterday afternoon at the bullring itself.
The six athletes will have to complete several tasks: lift a 100 kg stone ball 25 times; complete two laps with a 400 kg stone in the giza proba (stone lifting); cut three half-logs in the aizkora (wood chopping); carry 50 kg txingas (weights) for six laps; and finally, run three kilometers around the bullring.
Tickets for the final are already available on the platforms Entradium.com and Euskatloia.com for 35 euros. Tickets can also be purchased on Saturday at the bullring's ticket office from 8:00 PM onwards. The gates will open at 9:00 PM, an hour before the competition begins, and during that hour, DJ Goiko from Zumaia will set the atmosphere. Before the competition starts, a tribute will be paid to the recently deceased journalist Oihane Mateos for "her work in favor of the Euskal Pentatloia and sports".
Andoni Iruretagoiena Izeta VI.a confirmed at yesterday's presentation that he will be going for his fifth championship, acknowledging the pressure from his rivals. "I know everyone will be watching me and waiting to take the title away, that's the law of the champion," he stated. However, he emphasized that he comes with his training well done and in his best physical condition ever: "If I do things right, they will have a hard time taking the title from me."
The athlete from Aia mentioned that he has completely overcome last year's injury, having trained extensively during the winter. "It's true I had a significant dip in form during the summer and wasn't at my best, but I've overcome it and I believe I've never been in better shape than I am now," he confessed. Although satisfied with his four championships, he is aiming for a fifth, which he also wishes to dedicate to his friend Alex Aizpuru Etxaun, who was shot and killed a few weeks ago in Azpeitia.
On the other hand, Xabat Olaizola is not willing to let Izeta win the championship easily, as he expressed yesterday. The athlete from Zarautz stated he is full of motivation and tired of always finishing second, with the title as his goal. "I think I am the athlete least affected by the year-long break, as I continued to compete in aizkora and harri jasotzea championships and haven't lost my touch," he explained.
Olaizola highlighted that he comes hungry for victory: "I came second in the second division, I came second in the first division, I came second in the second division... so this time I'm coming for the championship." He believes that if he performs his tasks correctly, he has "quite a few cards in his favor" to secure the title.
