Itzulia Basque Country: Paul Seixas extends lead with third victory on stage 5 after thrilling duel with Florian Lipowitz

Paul Seixas of Decathlon CMA CGM continued his dominant performance at the Itzulia Basque Country by claiming his third stage victory on the demanding fifth stage. The race’s Queen stage, featuring eight categorised climbs over 176km, saw Seixas and Florian Lipowitz of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe break away on the final climb of Trabakua with 30km remaining. Despite intense efforts from the chasing group, neither Seixas nor Lipowitz could be caught, setting up a dramatic two-up sprint where the 19-year-old Seixas edged out Lipowitz to extend his overall lead. The stage was marked by aggressive racing from the outset, with a large breakaway group forming early and containing a few riders close to the general classification (GC) standings. Decathlon CMA CGM controlled the pace to protect Seixas’s lead, neutralising several attacks from rival teams. Key moments included attacks from Steven Kruijswijk and Baptiste Veistroffer in the breakaway and a series of moves from favourites such as Lipowitz, Marc Soler, and Ben Healy, all of which were carefully managed by Seixas’s team. The decisive move came on the Trabakua climb, where Seixas and Lipowitz broke clear and eventually dropped other contenders including Primož Roglič. Seixas acknowledged the difficulty of the stage and praised his team’s efforts in controlling the race, highlighting the tactical discipline that allowed him to conserve energy for the final sprint. He admitted to struggling momentarily on the climb but found his form during the descent and maintained composure to fend off Lipowitz’s early sprint attempt. Lipowitz’s strong showing saw him leapfrog Roglič into second place overall, but Seixas’s nearly two-and-a-half-minute lead going into the final stage leaves him firmly in control of the race. The outcome of stage five has significant implications for the general classification, with Seixas now holding a commanding advantage ahead of the concluding day. The battle for the remaining podium places is set to intensify, particularly between Lipowitz and Roglič, as teams prepare for a final stage that could still offer surprises. Seixas’s performance underlines his status as a rising talent in the sport and positions him as a favourite to secure overall victory in the Itzulia Basque Country.