Ion Izagirre misses out on the farewell he had chosen to end his career

Ion Izagirre will not be able to say goodbye to professional cycling as he had planned. The Cofidis rider has suffered a fall while training in the Basque Country and has fractured his left wrist, an injury that will prevent him from competing for the rest of the season. At 37 years old and after announcing that 2026 would be his last year in the peloton, the accident effectively marks an early end to his professional career.

A fall while training brings forward the end of Ion Izagirre's career

Izagirre was set to compete in the last Italian races of the season before concluding his journey at Il Lombardia. The Italian classic had been chosen as the venue for his final race, but a fall during a training session this Wednesday has changed those plans.

Cofidis confirmed that the Basque rider suffered a fracture in his left wrist and that, after receiving medical attention, he will not return to competition for the remainder of the season.

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"Ion was supposed to participate in the end-of-season races in Italy and finish with the Tour of Lombardy. This race, in which he had high hopes, was meant to be the last of his career," explained the French team, which also conveyed its support and wished him a speedy recovery.

The setback means that his farewell comes earlier than expected, but it also leaves the circumstance that Ion Izagirre's last race as a professional will have ended with a victory.

The Cofidis rider last competed on September 12 at the Memorial Marco Pantani, where he won in a sprint within a small group. It was his second victory of 2026 and the 20th of his professional career.

A final season with two victories

Although Izagirre was already in the final stretch of his career, 2026 was proving to be a particularly successful year. In April, he won the GP Miguel Indurain for the third time, matching the record for victories in the event, and months later he raised his arms again at the Memorial Marco Pantani.

Two victories that have ultimately become the sporting closure of a 17-season career as a professional.

Among his 20 victories, his stage wins in the three Grand Tours stand out. He won at the Giro d'Italia in 2012, at the Tour de France in 2016 and 2023, and at the Vuelta a España in 2020. With that victory at the Vuelta, he also became part of the select group of riders capable of winning stages in the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta.