Stage 1
Zarautz → Zarautz
Stage 1 opens the 5th edition of the Itzulia Women with a 121.3km circuit start and finish in Zarautz on the Basque coast. Classic Basque hilly terrain typical of an Itzulia opener — short steep climbs and rolling coastal roads frame an opening day suited to puncheurs rather than pure sprinters or pure climbers. First-day yellow jersey is decided in the closing 30km after the bunch is whittled by the punchy circuit.
Watch this stage
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What the stage looks like
Stage 1 opens the 5th edition of the Itzulia Women with a 121.3km circuit start and finish in Zarautz on the Basque coast. Classic Basque hilly terrain typical of an Itzulia opener — short steep climbs and rolling coastal roads frame an opening day suited to puncheurs rather than pure sprinters or pure climbers. First-day yellow jersey is decided in the closing 30km after the bunch is whittled by the punchy circuit.
What to follow
- Zarautz coastal start: the same town that has hosted recent Itzulia Basque Country (men's) opening stages, with a hilly circuit format.
- Basque WWT character: short steep climbs concentrated in the closing kilometres reward puncheurs over pure sprinters.
- First yellow jersey gambit: bonus seconds at the line plus circuit racing favours an aggressive ride for early GC positioning.
When to tune in
Watch the closing circuit laps — Basque hilly terrain produces late attacks 5-15km from the finish. Pure sprinters rarely contest the line.