Tour of the Basque Country

{{Infobox cycling race

| name = Tour of the Basque Country

| current_event =

| image = 300px

| date = Early-April

| region = Spanish Basque Country

| english = Tour of the Basque Country

| localnames = {{Unbulleted list|Vuelta al País Vasco {{in lang|es}}|Euskal Herriko itzulia {{in lang|eu}}}}

| nickname =

| discipline = Road

| competition = UCI World Tour

| type = Stage race

| organiser =

| director =

| first = {{start date|1924}}

| number = 64 (as of 2025)

| last =

| firstwinner = {{flagathlete|Francis Pélissier|FRA}}

| mostwins = {{Unbulleted list|{{flagathlete|José Antonio González|ESP|1945}}|{{flagathlete|Alberto Contador|ESP}}|(4 wins each)}}

| mostrecent = {{flagathlete|João Almeida|POR}}

}}

The Tour of the Basque Country (Officially: Itzulia Basque Country){{langx|es|Vuelta al País Vasco|links=no}}, {{langx|eu|Euskal Herriko Itzulia}} is an annual road cycling stage race held in the Spanish Basque Country in April. It is one of the races that make up the UCI World Tour calendar. As the Basque Country is a mountainous area, there are few flat stages, and thus the event favors those who are strong climbers. The race is characterized by its short stages, rarely exceeding 200 km, and steep ascents. While the ascents featured in the race are not particularly high compared to other stage races, they are among the steepest seen in professional cycling, some having sections with gradients reaching well above 20%.{{cite web |last1=Middendorp |first1=Koen |title=Voorbeschouwing: Ronde van Het Baskenland 2019 |url=https://www.wielerflits.be/nieuws/voorbeschouwing-ronde-van-het-baskenland-2019/ |website=Wieleflirts |access-date=12 April 2019}}

History

The original Tour of the Basque Country had a troubled history, with eight editions contested between 1924 and 1935, before the Spanish Civil War seemingly wiped it out for good. One of these early editions is commentated on in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises.

In 1952, the Eibar Cycling Club (erstwhile backers of Spain's first national stage race, the pre-Vuelta a España Gran Premio República) launched a new 3-day event called Gran Premio de la Bicicleta Eibarresa to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Former French national champion Louis Caput took the inaugural edition.

In 1969, organizers opted to promote the race (by then five stages long) as IX Vuelta al País Vasco - XVIII Bicicleta Eibarresa, effectively merging the Bicicleta Eibarresa into a reborn Tour of the Basque Country. However, the palmares of the Bicicleta Eibarresa (featuring Vuelta a España winners Jesús Loroño and Rolf Wolfshohl) is not recognized as part of the Tour of the Basque Country's history. The Eibar Cycling Club would relinquish control of the competition following the 1973 edition, while retaining the rights to the Bicicleta Eibarresa name, which has sporadically been reactivated to help promote other, lower ranked events.

The first winner of the Tour of the Basque Country was Francis Pélissier from France, while the first winner of the 'modern' Tour (1969) was Jacques Anquetil, also of France. The most successful riders in the history of the Tour are Spain's José Antonio González, who won the race four times in 1972, 1975, 1977 and 1978, and Spain's Alberto Contador, who also won the race four times in 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2016. Since its revival in 1969, it has been held every year with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 2022, the race has a counterpart in the UCI Women's World Tour - the Itzulia Women.

The winner traditionally dons a basque beret on the podium.

Winners

Source:{{cite web |title=Itzulia Basque Country past winners 1924 to 2021 |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/itzulia-basque-country-2022/race-history/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en |date=31 March 2022}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1924|name={{sortname|Francis|Pélissier||Pelissier, Francis}}|nat=FRA|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1925|name={{sortname|Auguste|Verdyck}}|nat=BEL|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1926|name={{sortname|Nicolas|Frantz}}|nat=LUX|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1927|name={{sortname|Victor|Fontan}}|nat=FRA|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1928|name={{sortname|Maurice|De Waele}}|nat=BEL|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1929|name={{sortname|Maurice|De Waele}}|nat=BEL|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1930|name={{sortname|Mariano|Cañardo||Canardo, Mariano}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1785|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1935|name={{sortname|Gino|Bartali}}|nat=ITA|natvar=1861|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1969|name={{sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1970|name={{sortname|Luis Pedro|Santamarina}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1971|name={{sortname|Luis|Ocaña||Ocana, Luis}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1972|name={{sortname|José Antonio|González|José Antonio González Linares|Gonzalez, Jose Antonio}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1973|name={{sortname|Luis|Ocaña||Ocana, Luis}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1974|name={{sortname|Miguel María|Lasa}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1975|name={{sortname|José Antonio|González|José Antonio González Linares|Gonzalez, Jose Antonio}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1976|name={{sortname|Gianbattista|Baronchelli}}|nat=ITA|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1977|name={{sortname|José Antonio|González|José Antonio González Linares|Gonzalez, Jose Antonio}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1977|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1978|name={{sortname|José Antonio|González|José Antonio González Linares|Gonzalez, Jose Antonio}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1977|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1979|name={{sortname|Giovanni|Battaglin}}|nat=ITA|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1980|name={{sortname|Alberto|Fernández|Alberto Fernández (cyclist)|Fernandez, Alberto}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1977|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1981|name={{sortname|Silvano|Contini}}|nat=ITA|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1982|name={{sortname|José Luis|Laguía||Laguia, Jose Luis}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|Reynolds|1982}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1983|name={{sortname|Julián|Gorospe}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|Reynolds|1983}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1984|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|SKIL|1984}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1985|name={{sortname|Pello|Ruiz Cabestany}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|Artiach|1985b}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1986|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|KAS|1986}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1987|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|KAS|1987}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1988|name={{sortname|Erik|Breukink}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|PSC|1988}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1989|name={{sortname|Stephen|Roche}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|Fagor2|1989}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1990|name={{sortname|Julián|Gorospe}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|GCE|1990}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1991|name={{sortname|Claudio|Chiappucci}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|CAR|1991}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1992|name={{sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|CLA|1992}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1993|name={{sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|CLA|1993}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1994|name={{sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|MAP|1994}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1995|name={{sortname|Alex|Zülle||Zulle, Alex}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|ONC|1995}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1996|name={{sortname|Francesco|Casagrande}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|SAE|1996}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1997|name={{sortname|Alex|Zülle||Zulle, Alex}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|ONC|1997}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1998|name={{sortname|Íñigo|Cuesta||Cuesta, Inigo}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|ONC|1998}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1999|name={{sortname|Laurent|Jalabert}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|ONC|1999}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2000|name={{sortname|Andreas|Klöden||Kloden, Andreas}}|nat=GER|team={{UCI team code|TMO|2000}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2001|name={{sortname|Raimondas|Rumšas||Rumsas, Raimondas}}|nat=LTU|team={{UCI team code|FAS|2001}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2002|name={{sortname|Aitor|Osa}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|GCE|2002}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2003|name={{sortname|Iban|Mayo}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|EUS|2003}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2004|name={{sortname|Denis|Menchov}}|nat=RUS|team={{UCI team code|GCE|2004}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2005|name={{sortname|Danilo|Di Luca}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|LIQ|2005}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2006|name={{sortname|José Ángel|Gómez Marchante||Gomez Merchante, Jose Angel}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|FUJ|2006}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2007|name={{sortname|Juan José|Cobo||Cobo, Juan Jose}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|FUJ|2007}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2008|name={{sortname|Alberto|Contador}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|AST|2008}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2009|name={{sortname|Alberto|Contador}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|AST|2009}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2010|name={{sortname|Chris|Horner}}|nat=USA|team={{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2011|name={{sortname|Andreas|Klöden}}|nat=GER|team={{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2012|name={{sortname|Samuel|Sánchez}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|EUS|2012}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2013|name={{sortname|Nairo|Quintana}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|MOV|2013}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2014|name={{sortname|Alberto|Contador}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2014}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2015|name={{sortname|Joaquim|Rodríguez}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|KAT|2015}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2016|name={{sortname|Alberto|Contador}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|TNK|2016}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2017|name={{sortname|Alejandro|Valverde}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|MOV|2017}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2018|name={{sortname|Primož|Roglič}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|TLJ|2018}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2019{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Barry |title=Tour of the Basque Country 2019: Stage 6 Results |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-the-basque-country-2019/stage-6/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en |date=13 April 2019}}|name={{sortname|Ion|Izagirre}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|AST|2019}}}}

{{Cycling past winner no race|year=2020 |reason= the COVID-19 pandemic}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2021{{cite web |title=Primoz Roglic wins Itzulia Basque Country |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/itzulia-basque-country-2021/stage-6/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en |date=10 April 2021}}|name={{sortname|Primož|Roglič}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2021}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2022{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Patrick |title=Daniel Martínez wins Itzulia Basque Country |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/itzulia-basque-country-2022/stage-6/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en |date=9 April 2022}}|name={{sortname|Daniel|Martínez|Daniel Martínez (cyclist)}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|IGD|2022}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2023|name={{sortname|Jonas|Vingegaard}}|nat=DEN|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2023}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2024|name={{sortname|Juan|Ayuso}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|UAE|2024}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2025|name={{sortname|João|Almeida|dab=cyclist}}|nat=POR|team={{UCI team code|UAD}}}}

=Multiple winners=

Wins ! Rider ! Editions
class="wikitable"
align=center rowspan=2\| 4	{{flagathlete\|José Antonio González\|ESP}}	align=right\| 1972, 1975, 1977, 1978
{{flagathlete\|Alberto Contador\|ESP}}	align=right\| 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016
align=center rowspan=2\| 3	{{flagathlete\|Sean Kelly\|IRL}}	align=right\| 1984, 1986, 1987
{{flagathlete\|Tony Rominger\|SUI}}	align=right\| 1992, 1993, 1994
align=center rowspan=6 \| 2	{{flagathlete\|Maurice Dewaele\|BEL}}	align=right\| 1928, 1929
{{flagathlete\|Luis Ocaña\|ESP}}	align=right\| 1971, 1973
{{flagathlete\|Julián Gorospe\|ESP}}	align=right\| 1983, 1990
{{flagathlete\|Alex Zülle\|SUI}}	align=right\| 1995, 1997
{{flagathlete\|Andreas Klöden\|GER}}	align=right\| 2000, 2011
{{flagathlete\|Primož Roglič\|SLO}}	align=right\| 2018, 2021

=Most stage wins=

class="wikitable sortable"

! # !!Rider !! Stage wins

rowspan=2|1

| {{flagathlete|Domingo Perurena|ESP}}

| align="center"|11

| | {{flagathlete|Laurent Jalabert|FRA}}

| align="center"|9

rowspan=2|4

| {{flagathlete|Tony Rominger|SUI}}

| align="center"|8

| {{flagathlete|Alberto Contador|ESP}}

| align="center"|7

rowspan=3|7

| {{flagathlete|Miguel María Lasa|ESP}}

| align="center"|6

rowspan=3|9

| {{flagathlete|José Antonio González Linares|ESP}}

| align="center"|5

=Wins per country=

class="wikitable" ! Wins !! Country
align=center \| 28	{{ESP}}
align=center \| 7	{{ITA}}
align=center \| 5	{{SUI}}
align=center \| 4	{{FRA}} {{IRL}}
align=center \| 3	{{BEL}}
align=center \| 2	{{COL}} {{GER}} {{SLO}}
align=center \| 1	{{DEN}} {{LTU}} {{LUX}} {{NED}} {{POR}} {{RUS}} {{USA}}

References

External links

{{Official website|www.itzulia.eus}} {{in lang|es}}
{{Cycling archives race|395}}

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1924

Category:UCI ProTour races

Category:Cycle races in the Basque Country

Category:UCI World Tour races

Category:1924 establishments in the Basque Country (autonomous community)

Wins ! Rider ! Editions
class="wikitable"
align=center rowspan=2\| 4	{{flagathlete\|José Antonio González\|ESP}}	align=right\| 1972, 1975, 1977, 1978
{{flagathlete\|Alberto Contador\|ESP}}	align=right\| 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016
align=center rowspan=2\| 3	{{flagathlete\|Sean Kelly\|IRL}}	align=right\| 1984, 1986, 1987
{{flagathlete\|Tony Rominger\|SUI}}	align=right\| 1992, 1993, 1994
align=center rowspan=6 \| 2	{{flagathlete\|Maurice Dewaele\|BEL}}	align=right\| 1928, 1929
{{flagathlete\|Luis Ocaña\|ESP}}	align=right\| 1971, 1973
{{flagathlete\|Julián Gorospe\|ESP}}	align=right\| 1983, 1990
{{flagathlete\|Alex Zülle\|SUI}}	align=right\| 1995, 1997
{{flagathlete\|Andreas Klöden\|GER}}	align=right\| 2000, 2011
{{flagathlete\|Primož Roglič\|SLO}}	align=right\| 2018, 2021