“I’m not in top form. You have to know how to pick your moments and, even if I’m not at my best, I’m excited and highly motivated,”
he told AS. His build-up to the Spanish Grand Tour was far from ideal.
The Basque planned to ride the Tour de France, but an illness during the Dauphiné forced a rethink. “I was sick before going to the race and after. Later, when I was in the car with Xavi Florencio reconnoitring Tour stages, specifically stage 10, I started to feel bad again,” he said.
Disrupted season before Vuelta
Those issues shaped his preparation and meant he had to wait until August to feel like himself again. Fifth place at the Clásica de San Sebastián restored some confidence before tackling Getxo and the Vuelta a Burgos, a race he could not finish. Now, at La Vuelta, Bilbao prefers to park the numbers and focus on enjoying his final days as a professional.
“I’m no longer looking at numbers, or analysing how my body is. I just want to enjoy it. Many times, even without being at 100%, I managed to win a race. I hope the stars align and I can add one more,” said the rider, who has 17 career victories.
Bilbao announced in April that 2026 would be his final season. His definitive farewell will come at Il Lombardia, although he admits the decision to leave professional cycling was not easy.
Bilbao finishes career at Il Lombardia
“I felt it was the right time because I’ve pushed my body hard, I’ve given my best, and it’s increasingly difficult to keep up with this routine. I have a family at home and I’d rather step away at a sweet moment, still being competitive,” he explained.
The Basque departs satisfied after a career that took him through Orbea, Euskaltel, Caja Rural, Astana, and Bahrain, as well as numerous appearances with the Spanish national team. His 2023 Tour victory, dedicated to Gino Mäder, holds a special place in his memory and is, as he acknowledges, “the favourite” in his palmarès.
He even had the option on the table to delay retirement. Mikel Landa’s proposal to share one last project in 2027 at Euskaltel-Euskadi alongside Izagirre and Bilbao was the only one that made him waver.
“It’s the only proposal that made me reconsider retirement. It gave me quite a few headaches because, besides moving me, it was very tempting,” he admitted. Now, the goal is to enjoy it and chase that last win to close the circle.