Imanol Arriortua, a Basque Team athlete, smiled proudly with the gold medal he earned in the road race at the World Championships in Huntsville (Alabama). While he typically visits the Basque Team Zentroa for his regular physical training or laboratory and track tests, this time his achievement in the United States brought him into the media spotlight, leading him to Fadura to meet with them. The athlete from Derio was welcomed at the Basque Team Zentroa by Gorka Iturriaga, Director of Physical Activity and Sport for the Basque Government, and Olatz Legarza, coordinator of the Basque Team Foundation. He was accompanied by his coach, Eneko Iparragirre, also a member of the Basque Team scholarship program, Iñaki Isasi, president of the Euskadi Foundation, all the professionals who support Imanol daily at the center, and, of course, his road pilot, Mikel Aristi.
Imanol Arriortua won the gold medal at the World Championships held in Huntsville, Alabama (United States) in the tandem category. The cyclist from Derio, guided by his pilot Mikel Aristi, crossed the finish line with a time of 01:57:46. The podium was completed by the Balearic and Murcian duo Joan Sanso and Eloy Teruel (01:57:59), and the Dutch pair Tristan Bangma and Patrick Bos (01:58:11).
Basque Team has long recognized Imanol Arriortua's talent and potential to win the world title and reach the podium at the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. What the structure's management and technical staff saw in Imanol is now materializing. The dream is becoming a reality due to the investment made and the seriousness with which the athlete works, attending the Getxo center almost daily. There, the biomedical, technical, and biomechanical team assists and advises him in every aspect, but undoubtedly, he and his coach, Iparragirre, dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to achieving their goals. The Alabama event was one of them, following his strong performance in the Spanish championships, both on the road and track. Imanol has shown excellent synergy on the track with Noel Martín and on the road with Mikel Aristi. In the United States, the Basque Team cyclist has taken a significant step towards greater achievements.
The Huntsville Para-cycling Road World Championships brought together 341 men and women from 48 countries, competing in 53 medal-contending events across various categories: conventional bicycles, handcycles, tricycles, and tandems.
The competition for tandems was scheduled for Saturday, September 5th (time trials) and Monday, September 7th (road races). The cyclist from Biscay competed in both international events alongside his pilot Mikel Aristi.
In the time trial, things did not go as expected. Arriortua and Aristi finished fifth, leaving them disappointed. Imanol did not feel well, possibly affected by the heat and travel fatigue, which relegated them to fifth place with a time of 33:56.66.
In the road race, nervousness was high following the time trial outcome. However, they were very active from the start and sought opportunities to break away. Positioning themselves at the front for several laps, they saw victory as a real possibility, which ultimately came to pass.
Arriortua and Aristi executed a powerful solo breakaway. The pair managed to break free from their rivals with over an hour of racing remaining, maintaining a formidable pace against a chasing peloton of main favorites. Arriortua and Aristi skillfully managed their energy to keep a lead of around a minute over the peloton and ultimately secure the gold medal.
Gorka Iturriaga took the opportunity to highlight the comprehensive teamwork at the Basque Team Zentroa, emphasizing the contribution of each professional in meticulously crafting a World Champion, in collaboration with the Euskadi Foundation. "What Imanol and Mikel have achieved once again underscores the significant work being done in Euskadi at the elite level and the importance of sport in establishing a strong international brand for the country," he stated.
Olatz Legarza, for her part, emphasized the integral, human-centered service offered to athletes. "Imanol is part of the Basque Team family and its daily life. Our role is to create tailored solutions and meet all the needs athletes have, so they can focus on their performance with peace of mind," added the Foundation's coordinator.
