PREVIEW | Itzulia Basque Country 2025 stage 1 - Victory for UAE or Visma in the opening time-trial?

From the 7th to the 12th of April, the peloton will take on Itzulia Basque Country; a race that is well known for it's course designed for climbers and puncheurs in a region full of cycling history. We preview stage 1.

The race starts off with a 16-kilometer time-trial in Vitoria-Gasteiz, one that is not flat and as usual will already create some early differences between the overall classification contenders.

There is no technical aspect to this time-trial, it's very simple and in the first half, although they are not too difficult, there are a couple of small ascents. Still, it is mostly rolling terrain where the specialists can still make the difference.

The first stage of the race will be important for the overall classification as it will dictate the order in which the climbers will go into the hilly stages. With this in mind, the likes of João Almeida and Mattias Skjelmose will be trying to get the most out of their effort, whilst riders like Brandon McNulty and Romain Grégoire could be interesting as GC outsiders. The rest will be trying to limit losses, but the fight for the stage win will be very open as we're missing the big specialists.

The time-trial is mostly flat, but a few uphill sections may make a few seconds of difference between a few riders which can prove to be vital in the finale. It will be a sunny day with a slight northeastern breeze, which should affect the day's outcome a lot. It will be a day for the riders to put on some unusually big chainrings.

*** Brandon McNulty, Victor Campenaerts
** João Almeida, Mattias Skjelmose, Romain Grégoire
* Finn Fisher-Black, Ethan Hayter, Max Schachmann, Felix Grossschartner, Nelson Oliveira, Ben Healy

Pick: Victor Campenaerts