Medical Reports & Withdrawals Itzulia Basque Country 2026 update stage 6 - 55 riders abandon race on the final day

Crashes, illness, and withdrawals are an unavoidable part of any stage race, and Itzulia Basque Country 2026 will be no exception. With narrow roads, technical descents, and relentless climbing throughout the week, incidents can quickly reshape both stage results and the overall general classification. This article provides a running overview of all medical updates and rider withdrawals during the race.

Updated after each stage, this rolling report tracks all confirmed injuries, DNS, DNF and withdrawals as they occur. As situations develop, teams issue updates, riders undergo medical assessments, and the race picture continues to shift. Below, you will find the latest verified information on crashes, health concerns and rider status throughout Itzulia Basque Country 2026.

There were two DNS from the official startlist with both Finn Fisher-Black and Ivan Cobo not taking to the start

Luca Vergallito, Mathieu Kockelmann, Yannis Voisard and Hannes Wilksch did not start the start - the last two riders from Tudor. The Swiss team lost another two riders as Marco Brenner and Luc Wirtgem both abandoned the stage afterwards.

Guillaume Martin, Enzo Paleni, Kévin Vauquelin and Lucas Hamilton were all involved in crashes during the day - several other unidentified riders did as well - whilst Mikel Landa crashed on the final descent. However what first looked like a bad injury may not be as bad of a consequence, as the Basque rider managed to finish the stage.

After Mikel Landa failed to take to the start of stage 3 following his crash the day prior, a further five riders were forced to abandon on the day, including most notable pre-race favourite Isaac del Toro, who was a DNF following a crash. Also out of the race are Georg Zimmermann, Alberto Bruttomesso, Remy Rochas and Matthew Fox.

Another day brought more big-name casualties in the Basque Country. Most notably of all, Lidl-Trek leader Juan Ayuso abandoned through illness. The Spaniard wasn't the only DNF on Stage 4 though, also out of the race are Emanuel Buchmann, Sergio Higuita, Roger Adria, Kevin Geniets, Ander Okamika, Aaron Dockx and Lennert Belmans.

Just the one casualty on stage 5 and another big name one too as stage 3 winner Axel Laurance failed to make it to the startline at the start of the stage.

The final stage of the race meant that the riders out of action wouldn't face consequences by leaving the race, and that is what we saw heavily. The brutal route, combined with the horrible weather conditions saw many finish their Itzulia early. Julian Alaphilippe, Ben Tulett, Enzo Paleni and Gotzon Martin didn't star the stage whilst... 51 riders did not finish it. A whole 55 riders finished stage 5 but not 6, almost half of the peloton.