Pello Bilbao
Born on 25 February 1990 in Gernika, in the Spanish Basque Country, Pello Bilbao is a professional road racing cyclist who has spent his career with Bahrain Victorious. A versatile climber and opportunist with a flair for reading a race, Bilbao has won stages at all three Grand Tours, including a memorable Tour de France stage in 2023, and has repeatedly finished inside the top ten of cycling's biggest tours. After more than a decade at the sport's highest level, he announced that 2026 will be his final season. Find Pello Bilbao's latest results, stats and race calendar on this page.
Biography of pro cyclist Pello Bilbao
Pello Bilbao is one of the most respected all-rounders of his generation, a rider equally comfortable hunting stage wins from a breakaway and grinding out a high overall placing across three weeks. His blend of climbing strength, racecraft and consistency has made him a fixture in Grand Tour battles for years.
Riding out of the proud Basque cycling tradition, Bilbao has become a leader and mentor at Bahrain Victorious, the team he has called home since 2020. His career stands as a model of longevity, intelligence and quiet determination.
Early life and rise in the Basque Country
Bilbao grew up in Gernika, in a region where cycling is woven into the culture. He turned professional in 2011 with the Basque squad Euskaltel-Euskadi, the team that has launched so many riders from the region, before moving to Caja Rural and then to Astana, where he developed into a genuine Grand Tour contender.
It was during these years that Bilbao began to show his range, combining strong climbing with the tactical awareness to seize opportunities when the race opened up.
Grand Tour stage wins and consistency
Bilbao's palmarès is built on results across all three Grand Tours. He took two stage victories at the Giro d'Italia and added a stage win at the Tour de France in 2023, a result that came in an emotional period for his team. Alongside the stage wins, he has assembled a remarkable record of top-ten overall finishes, placing in the top ten twice at the Tour de France and three times at the Giro d'Italia.
That consistency over three-week races, rather than a single defining victory, is the hallmark of his career. Bilbao has also been a regular contender in the hilly one-day races and shorter stage races, where his punch and endurance reward aggressive riding.
Rider profile: strengths and style
Bilbao is a climber and all-rounder who thrives on hard, attritional racing. He is not a pure mountain specialist nor a time trial expert, but his ability to stay near the front across difficult terrain, combined with sharp tactical instincts, makes him dangerous in both breakaways and reduced-bunch finishes. He is known for his composure, his willingness to attack, and his value as a road captain.
Personal life
Bilbao is a proud Basque, and racing in front of home crowds at events such as the Itzulia Basque Country has always carried special meaning for him. He chose his home region's Itzulia race in 2026 as the setting to announce that he would retire at the end of the season, a fitting gesture for a rider so closely tied to his roots.
Records and milestones
- Two stage wins at the Giro d'Italia
- Stage winner at the Tour de France (2023)
- Multiple top-ten overall finishes at the Tour de France (2021, 2023)
- Three top-ten overall finishes at the Giro d'Italia (2018, 2020, 2022)
- Long-serving leader and road captain for Bahrain Victorious
- Turned professional in 2011 with Euskaltel-Euskadi
What's next for Pello Bilbao?
With 2026 confirmed as his final season, Bilbao is set to chase one last run of results before stepping away from the peloton. Expect him to target stage wins from breakaways and to lend his experience to Bahrain Victorious's younger riders. After a career defined by intelligence and resilience, his focus will be on closing it out on his own terms, ideally with a memorable result in front of his Basque supporters.
