Izagirre solos to record-equalling victory at GP Miguel Indurain

Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) powered to victory at the GP Miguel Indurain for the third time, in what was the 18th win of his professional career.

The 37-year-old Basque rider was the most experienced on the start list, with this being his 13th start at the race, dating back to 2010, with victories in 2016 and 2023. 

Izagirre, the oldest rider in the race, was on a mission, and alongside American Champion Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), surged clear on the Alto de Eraul with around 13km remaining, as 20-year-old Markel Beloki (EF Education-EasyPost) managed to jump across with 5km remaining.

On the steep Alto de Ibarra inside the final 2km, Izagirre rocketed clear and soloed to victory, with Simmons holding on for 2nd, while Beloki was caught, and his teammate Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) sprinted to 3rd. 

Izagirre now draws level with Hortensio Vidaurreta, Juan Fernández, Ángel Vicioso and Alejandro Valverde on a record-equalling three victories at the GP Miguel Indurain, in what is the final season of his professional career before he will retire at the end of 2026.

The 35th edition of the Gran Premio Miguel Induraín kicked off in Estella-Lizarra, and a five-man breakaway formed early, featuring Unai Aznar (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Rafael Durães (Efapel), Sinuhé Fernandez and Carlos García Pierna (Burgos Burpellet BH), and Louis Ferreira (Anicolor/Campicam). 

With 60km remaining, there was a flurry of attacks which increased the pace in the peloton and saw the final rider remaining from the morning’s breakaway, Fernandez, caught and passed by Geoffrey Bouchard (TotalEnergies) and Jokin Murguialday (Euskaltel-Euskadi).

With around 45km remaining, over the summit of the Alto de Lezáun, a group went clear of the peloton and bridged across to the front trio. Those riders included: George Bennett (NSN), Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek), Mattia Gaffuri (Picnic PostNL), Jesus Herrada (Burgos Burpellet BH), Javier Romo (Movistar), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious), Jardi Christiaan van der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost), and Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Intermarché). XDS-Astana led the chase, having missed the move, Bernard and Tiberi pushing on, as the rest of the group were caught. 

Tiberi dispatched of Bernard with 29km remaining, but was quickly caught by the peloton on the steep Alto de Ibarra.

Crossing the finish line for the third time with 27km remaining, Héctor Álvarez (Lidl-Trek), Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain-Victorious), Harry Sweeny (EF Education-EasyPost), Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) formed a move, with Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) bridging across with Urko Berrade (Equipo Kern Pharma), Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Georg Zimmermann (Lotto-Intermarché), Ander Okamika and Diego Ulissi (XDS-Astana) making a twelve-man group out front. 

Just as the group were about to be caught by the peloton with 13km at the foot of the Alto de Eraul, Simmons attacked, and dragged Sweeny, Izagirre, Bennett and Arrieta with him. Izagirre managed to ride all but Simmons off his wheel, and the duo powered on.

Markel Beloki (EF Education-EasyPost) attacked from the peloton towards the summit of the climb in an attempt to bridge to the front duo. With 6km to go, Beloki was 10 seconds behind with the peloton at just under 30 seconds. 

Onto the final ascent of the Alto de Ibarra with 2km remaining, Izagirre powered clear on the steepest section from Simmons and Beloki with what would ultimately be the race-winning move. Simmons held on for second, while Beloki was caught but his teammate Baudin sealed the podium for EF.