At it happened: Action-packed queen stage of the Itzulia Basque Country decided by two-up sprint

Paul Seixas delivered a commanding performance on the queen stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, securing his third stage win of the race after a thrilling two-up sprint against Florian Lipowitz. Despite struggling briefly on the final climbs, Seixas managed to stay with Lipowitz and ultimately outpaced him in the closing metres. This victory further solidifies his position as the race leader, now holding a commanding lead across all four classifications, a level of dominance reminiscent of recent performances by Tadej Pogačar. Throughout the stage, Seixas’ team played a crucial role in controlling the race, neutralising attacks from rival teams and setting a steady pace. Seixas himself acknowledged the difficulty of the day, noting that while he initially struggled to give his all on the climbs, his form returned on the descent, enabling him to contest the sprint effectively. Lipowitz, who had tried to surprise Seixas by launching his sprint early, was ultimately unable to hold off the young rider’s late acceleration. The stage also saw significant shifts in the general classification, with Lipowitz moving up to second place overall, leapfrogging his teammate Primož Roglič, who dropped out of the top positions. Other riders such as Ion Izagirre and David de la Cruz improved their standings, while some contenders like Skjelmose and Tulett fell out of the top ten. The race remains finely poised heading into the final stage, which promises to be challenging due to its demanding parcours and the threat of adverse weather conditions. Looking ahead, the concluding stage will test Seixas’ resilience and tactical acumen as he seeks to convert his current advantage into overall victory. With a potentially stormy day on the horizon and multiple climbs offering opportunities for late attacks, the race could yet see dramatic changes. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Seixas can maintain his remarkable form and secure his first overall win at this prestigious World Tour event.