'He was strong but I hung on' – hat-trick hero Paul Seixas sprints to mountains win at Itzulia Basque Country stage 5

Paul Seixas delivered a commanding performance on stage five of the Itzulia Basque Country, securing his third stage victory of the race and maintaining his lead in the general classification. The 19-year-old French rider from Decathlon CMA CGM held off a determined challenge from Florian Lipowitz of Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe in a tense sprint finish after a grueling 176.2km route centred around Eibar. Despite Lipowitz’s persistent attacks, Seixas managed to hang on and cross the line first, further consolidating his position in the yellow jersey with only one stage remaining. The stage featured a demanding course with over 4,000 metres of climbing spread across three category-one and five category-three ascents, terrain that clearly favoured Seixas’s climbing and descending skills. Lipowitz pushed hard on the penultimate climb of Izua, setting a fierce pace and attempting to shake off Seixas, but the young Frenchman matched his rival’s efforts, showcasing resilience and tactical acumen. The final climb failed to create a decisive gap, leading to a two-man sprint in the streets of Eibar where Seixas ultimately prevailed. Reflecting on the race, Seixas acknowledged the strength of his rival but emphasised the importance of teamwork and motivation within his squad. He praised his teammates for their relentless support in defending the leader’s jersey, highlighting the camaraderie and collective spirit that underpin their success. “Having the yellow jersey in the team is fantastic,” he said, underscoring the morale boost it provides as the race approaches its conclusion. Looking ahead to the final stage, which features a slightly less mountainous profile with six category-two and category-three climbs, Seixas holds a comfortable advantage of over two minutes on his nearest competitors. While the remaining terrain offers opportunities for attacks, it would require a significant shift in fortunes for anyone to overturn his lead. With his consistent form and strong team backing, Seixas appears well-positioned to claim overall victory in the Itzulia Basque Country.