Joao Almeida fulfills the predictions and wins the Itzulia 2025

A great time trial and strength in the mountains have been all that Joao Almeida needed to win the 2025 Tour of the Basque Country. The other favorite, Enric Mas, was hampered by a poor time trial but still managed to climb to the second step of the podium.

Joao Almeida wins a spectacular Itzulia

There is no doubt that the Itzulia is year after year a race that guarantees spectacle with a recurring format that works and takes full advantage of the rugged geography of the Basque Country. And we are not only talking about the fight for the general classification but also about the stages that are supposed to be more transitional.

This 2025 Itzulia started with a time trial around Vitoria that left us with curious images of the cyclists starting from inside the Fernando Buesa Arena, the pavilion where Baskonia, one of the best Spanish basketball teams, plays their games.

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The time trial saw Max Schachmann win by just hundredths over Joao Almeida and Florian Lipowitz, in addition to the tremendous setback for Enric Mas, who was one of the main favorites for the final victory in this 2025 Itzulia and conceded 1 minute and 10 seconds to the winner in the only 16.5 km stage.

The second stage was set for a sprint finish, and that was the script that the race followed, with an allowed breakaway that was caught as the finish line approached, and a nice sprint in which Caleb Ewan continued to show the confidence placed in him by INEOS Grenadiers after rescuing him at the last minute when it seemed he would not find a team and would have to end his career. This was the Australian's second victory of the season and his first in a World Tour race since he won the third stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico in 2022.

The third stage, heading to Beasain, allowed us to enjoy the typical medium mountain terrain of the Basque Country, with several steep climbs where we could start to see the favorites. However, it was not on these climbs where the stage was decided, but in the final skirmishes towards the finish line where Alex Aranburu managed to stand out and win, with controversy, this stage. His victory was in doubt for several hours and he did not even step onto the podium after Romain Grégoire of Cofidis was initially declared the winner for taking a roundabout in the final kilometers on the right side, ignoring that the marshals were directing the cyclists to the left side. However, Cofidis' claim that the roadbook indicated that the roundabout should be taken on the side chosen by Aranburu eventually prevailed.

The fourth stage, heading to Markina and with the ascent to one of the toughest slopes of Izua, the mountain pass that leads to the well-known sanctuary of Arrate, served for Joao Almeida to demonstrate his strength on very steep slopes. This type of climb, which in modern cycling does not usually create large differences, was maximized by the Portuguese rider to later take risks on the descent and dethrone Schachmann at the finish line in Markina.

Ben Healy gave us a tremendous gift in the fifth stage. A stage that seemed destined for a breakaway of top-level cyclists and did not disappoint. The Irishman did not hold back and made one of those tremendous solo rides that are his trademark, attacking over 50 kilometers from the finish with very tough terrain ahead, achieving a remarkable victory that undoubtedly makes him one to watch for the upcoming Ardennes classics.

The final stage offered another very tough mountain stage. However, there was not the tension or the fight of other recent editions due to the strong control of the race by UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Ben Healy tried again to join another breakaway of strong riders, but this time it did not succeed, and in fact, it was the leader Joao Almeida who went on the offensive as the best way to defend his yellow leader's jersey.

The stage allowed Enric Mas to improve his 2025 Itzulia by resisting Almeida's attacks, which helped him leave behind the cyclists ahead of him in the general classification and rise to second place in the standings. A clear example that, without the setback of the first day, he could have been fighting head-to-head for victory in this race with the Portuguese rider.

General Classification Itzulia 2025

1. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 20h04'49''
2. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) +1'52''
3. Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal-QuickStep) +1'59''
4. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +2'07''
5. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +2'17''
6. Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-QuickStep) +2'18''
7. Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) +2'45''
8. Simone Velasco (XDS-Astana) +3'43''
9. Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) +3'50''
10. Clément Champoussin (XDS-Astana) +3'55''