Start Times & Order Itzulia Basque Country 2026 Stage 1 time-trial

This Monday, 6 April, the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country begins. Also known as the Tour of the Basque Country, it is one of the toughest and most exciting stage races on the WorldTour calendar. Stage 1 will already test the general classification favourites — Isaac del Toro, Juan Ayuso, Paul Seixas and Primoz Roglic — with a 13.8km individual time trial set to create the first gaps.

The race opens with a demanding course. There are hardly any flat sections, and the stage is likely to be decided on a final 500-metre ramp averaging 9%. It’s an explosive effort that could produce significant time differences from the very first day, favouring all-rounders rather than pure specialists.

The start order begins at 14:30 (CET) with Georg Zimmermann, while Mikel Landa will be the final rider down the ramp at 17:23 (CET). That wide window should allow the general classification to begin taking shape, particularly towards the end of the day when the main contenders are scheduled to ride.

Among the key names, Isaac del Toro will start at 17:17 (CET), one of the final riders of the day. Just before him, Juan Ayuso rolls down the ramp at 17:15 (CET), part of a closing sequence that also includes several other GC hopefuls.

Paul Seixas is set for a notable mid-session slot at 15:29 (CET), among a block of strong riders. Meanwhile, Primoz Roglic starts at 14:46 (CET), making him one of the first favourites to set a benchmark time.

For Del Toro, it represents an important test. Although he is already one of the standout riders in the peloton, the time trial has not traditionally been his strongest discipline, so his goal will be to limit losses and stay close to the best times early on.

As for Movistar Team, their riders are spread throughout the day: Juan Pedro Lopez (14:42), Natnael Tesfatsion (15:04), Javier Romo (15:26), Roger Adria (15:48), Raul Garcia Pierna (16:10), Jorge Arcas (16:32) and Cian Uijtdebroeks (17:05) (all times CET). All of them will be aiming for solid performances to remain in contention for the general classification.

For the Spanish team, the objective is clear: avoid significant time losses on this opening day. In particular, Uijtdebroeks will need to deliver a competitive ride to stay close to the top contenders, as conceding too much time early could shape the rest of his week.

In that context, the opening time trial of Itzulia 2026 stands out as a key stage, with a compressed final sequence where the favourites will start close together — and where every second will count.