Ion Izagirre changes plans and will race Il Lombardia with a broken wrist

Ion Izagirre will finally be able to say goodbye to professional cycling on the bike. The Cofidis rider, who just a week ago suffered a fracture in his left wrist while training, has confirmed that he will be at the start of Il Lombardia this Saturday, October 10. He will do so with a splint and with the sole objective of closing his 17-season career as he had planned.

Ion Izagirre does not want a fall to end his career

A few days ago, Cofidis announced that a fall while training forced Ion Izagirre to bring forward his retirement, leaving him without the opportunity to compete in Il Lombardia, the race he had chosen to say goodbye to the peloton.

However, the 37-year-old Basque cyclist was not willing to end his career this way. After consulting with doctors, physiotherapists, and his family, he has decided to travel to Italy to take the start of the last Monument classic of the season.

"I didn't want to end my career like this. See you on Saturday in Lombardia", Izagirre explained in a video published by Cofidis in which he appears with a splint on his wrist.

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The rider acknowledges that he will hardly be able to enjoy the race under these conditions, but the sporting result has taken a back seat. "For me, just being at the start will be a victory", he assured in statements to Euskadi Irratia.

Izagirre will say goodbye after 17 seasons as a professional and 20 victories, including stage wins in all three Grand Tours. Additionally, 2026 has been one of his best final years, with victories in the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain and the Memorial Marco Pantani, as well as a fourth place in the Itzulia.

According to EITB, the Basque also plans to participate later in the Ciclocrós de Ormaiztegi, his hometown, although Il Lombardia will be his farewell to professional road cycling.