Exactly two months before the race has it's final stage, the organizers of the
Itzulia Basque Country race have revealed the route for the 2022 edition, which will take place in the mythical region showcasing some of it's finest riding locations.
The race will take place between the 4th and 9th of April and it is in a key place in the calendar where it antecedes the Ardennes classics. It is known for it's roaring fans, steep muritos and abundance of hilly stages, aswell as ocasional rough weather, which makes for terrific race every year.
This year the route is as tough as usual, starting off with a sharp and hilly 7.5 kilometers long prologue in Hondarribia. It will then have some slightly easier days on stage two and three which may allow some sort of a reduced bunch sprint, but from there on the race turns very hard and every day can be crucial for the GC, besides giving opportunities for breakaways to succeed. Stages four and five will be on roller-coaster terrain with very steep hills frequently being present, which will then give place to the final day which as usual finishes in the Santuario de Arrate after a brutal day in the surounding mountains which always sees major fireworks.
Stage 1: Hondarribia - Hondarribia, 7.5Km
Stage 2: Leitza - Viana, 207.9Km
Stage 3: Laudio - Amurrio, 181.7Km
Stage 4: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Zamudio, 185.6Km
Stage 5: Zamudio - Mallabia, 163.8Km
Stage 6: Eibar - Arrate, 135.7Km