The Basque Country has a way of humbling the most seasoned professionals, but for 19-year-ancient Paul Seixas, the brutal terrain of the Itzulia Basque Country has become a personal playground. In a performance that felt as much like a coronation as a race, Itzulia Basque Country: Paul Seixas extends lead with third victory on stage 5 after thrilling duel with Florian Lipowitz, cementing his status as the definitive force of this edition.
Seixas, riding for Decathlon CMA CGM, secured a rare hat-trick of stage wins, outmaneuvering Florian Lipowitz of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in a high-stakes, two-up sprint in Eibar. The victory wasn’t just a matter of raw power; it was a masterclass in composure from a teenager facing down some of the most decorated climbers in the modern peloton.
The day was designated as the “Queen Stage,” a 176km odyssey featuring eight categorised climbs that served as the race’s ultimate litmus test. While the early kilometers were defined by a sprawling 30-rider breakaway, the real narrative shifted when the general classification (GC) contenders began to test one another’s limits on the steep gradients.
A Duel of Will on the Trabakua
The tension reached a breaking point on the Trabakua climb with 30km remaining. After a series of probing attacks from the favorites, Seixas and Lipowitz finally snapped away from the group. It was a tactical partnership born of necessity, as both riders realized that working together was the only way to stay ahead of a determined chase group that included the likes of Primož Roglič.
The duel intensified on the climb to Izua. Seixas attempted to shake the German rider, but Lipowitz proved an immovable object, matching every acceleration. The drama peaked near the summit when Javier Romo of Movistar, who had briefly joined the leaders, suffered a crash after touching wheels with Lipowitz. The incident left Seixas and Lipowitz alone at the front once more, locked in a psychological battle of attrition.
Entering the final 20km, the duo faced the Urkaregi climb. Their lead had dwindled to just 27 seconds over the chasing pair of Romo and Roglič. For a moment, the victory seemed precarious, forcing Lipowitz and Seixas to commit fully to their cooperation to maintain the gap. The subsequent descent into Eibar was “daredevil” in nature, with Seixas pushing the limits of physics to try and crack the German, only for Lipowitz to remain glued to his wheel.
In the final 700 meters, Lipowitz launched a desperate acceleration. For a heartbeat, it appeared the move might succeed, but Seixas’s resilience was absolute. The young Frenchman stayed tucked in, waited for the optimal moment, and powered past in the final few hundred meters to seize the win.
The Human Cost and the Tactical Grind
While the headlines focus on the winner, the stage was a testament to resilience. Javier Romo’s ride was particularly poignant; after his crash on the penultimate climb, he fought back through the chase group to secure third place on the line, a gritty recovery that earned the respect of the peloton.
For Seixas, the win was a combination of personal ambition and team precision. Reflecting on the effort, Seixas credited his support system for the dominant performance. “That was a hard stage. I said this morning that I wanted to maybe win it, and today the boys did a great job to control all day long,” Seixas said. “Sometimes other teams wanted to attack but we countered that back and we were always there. That’s incredible and in the complete they paced me well.”
He also acknowledged the strength of his rival, noting, “With Florian, we rode well until the finish. He was really strong today, and also the other guys. Today was a close battle. Chapeau to everyone, it was a really hard day, and I’m happy to win for the team.”
General Classification: A Commanding Lead
The implications for the overall standings are profound. By winning the stage and distancing the rest of the field, Seixas has extended his lead to a substantial 2:30. While Florian Lipowitz managed to leapfrog his teammate Primož Roglič to move into second place the gap to the top remains a daunting mountain to climb.
| Position | Rider | Time Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Seixas | — |
| 2 | Florian Lipowitz | +2:30 |
| 3 | Primož Roglič | +3:40 |
The race now heads into its final act. Saturday’s concluding stage promises another day of relentless climbing, providing a final opportunity for the challengers to mount an attack. However, based on the dominance displayed throughout the week, Seixas appears to be cruising toward a historic general classification victory.
Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if the pressure of the final day can rattle the 19-year-old, or if he will complete his conquest of the Basque hills with a final, definitive flourish.
Share your thoughts on Seixas’s rise in the comments below or follow the final stage updates via the official UCI race center.
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