Ion Izagirre's planned farewell cut short by training crash
The Cofidis rider had planned to end his career after Il Lombardia but will not be able to take to the start after a training accident.
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Ion Izagirre’s (Cofidis) planned final season as a professional has been cut short after he fractured his left wrist in a training crash on Wednesday near his base in the Basque Country.
“After informing the medical team, he received first aid and will miss the rest of the season,” Cofidis confirmed in an official statement.
Izagirre had previously announced that 2026 would be his final season in the peloton, with the 37-year-old planning to bring his career to a close on his own terms at Il Lombardia.
“Ion was due to take part in the end-of-season races in Italy and finish with the Tour of Lombardy. This race, for which he had high hopes, was to be the last of his career,” said Cofidis.
“The entire Cofidis team is sending him their warmest support and wishes him a speedy recovery.”
If Izagirre does officially end his career this season, he will have finished on a winning note, despite the sour setback. His most recent race came on 12 September at the Memorial Marco Pantani, which he won from a four-group sprint, marking his twentieth career victory.
Among those 20 victories are two stages at the Tour de France in 2016 and 2023, one at the Giro d’Italia in 2012, and one at the Vuelta a España in 2020. He became the 100th male rider to do so when he won his Vuelta stage back in 2020.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, 2026 has proven to be one of the strongest seasons of Izagirre's career, as the 37-year-old won the GP Miguel Indurain for a record-equaling third time in April.
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