Itzulia Basque Country: Alex Aranburu blasts ahead of Tobias Halland Johannessen on final uphill section for stage 4 win

Alex Aranburu of Cofidis claimed a dramatic victory on stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country, prevailing in a tense uphill sprint finish in Galdakao. After a relentless 167km of racing, Aranburu broke away from a large chase group on the final categorised climb and managed to hold off Tobias Halland Johannessen of Uno-X Mobility, who finished second, with Christian Scaroni of XDS Astana taking third. The decisive moment came in the last kilometre when Aranburu and Johannessen appeared to falter, allowing a small group including Aranburu’s teammate Ion Izagirre to close in, but Johannessen’s return to the front effectively set up Aranburu’s perfectly timed sprint to the line. The race unfolded aggressively from the start, with multiple attempts to form breakaways on the early climbs, notably from UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders such as Brandon McNulty, who launched a solo attack and led for over 70 kilometres. Despite McNulty’s long-range effort, a large chasing group of 34 riders eventually caught him, including key contenders and strong climbers. Bahrain Victorious later intensified the pace to reel in the breakaway, setting the stage for the thrilling finale. Meanwhile, race leader Paul Seixas of Decathlon CMA CGM marked every move attentively, finishing eighth on the stage and extending his overall lead. Seixas’s consistent performance throughout the undulating terrain highlighted his control over the race, gaining 20 seconds on chief rivals Primož Roglič and Florian Lipowitz. Only Ion Izagirre and Pello Bilbao managed to gain time on the Frenchman, with Izagirre moving up to fourth overall. Although Seixas holds a lead of just over two minutes, he faces two more challenging days before he can secure his first WorldTour stage race victory. His ability to respond to attacks and maintain position on the descents will be crucial in defending his advantage. Aranburu expressed mixed emotions following his win, recalling frustration from the previous day but delight in securing his third stage victory in the Basque Country. He described his tactical approach on the climb and the descent, emphasising the importance of timing and teamwork in the final sprint. The stage reinforced the unpredictable nature of the race, with long-range attacks, tactical chases, and a dramatic finish underscoring the depth of competition and the challenging terrain that defines the Itzulia Basque Country.