Favorites stage 4 Tour of the Basque Country 2025 | New day, new hell: Another brutal climb awaits

After a quiet start, the Tour of the Basque Country finally exploded during stage three. Aside from the bizarre ending — where stage winner Alex Aranburu was disqualified — it was a thrilling day of racing. And stage four of the Spanish stage race promises to be just as exciting: the finale is marked by a typically steep Basque climb, where the action is guaranteed to blow up. IDLProCycling.com walks you through the top contenders!

Course stage 4 Tour of the Basque Country 2025

Racing in the Basque Country means short, steep climbs — and stage four will offer little to no rest. The route features no fewer than seven categorized climbs. After a hilly opening section, six tongue-twisting ascents lie ahead, each with its own character. The middle part of the stage is packed with short, punchy climbs, with the Muniketagane and Lekoitzegane being the most punishing.

But the toughest test comes at the end. The summit of the climb to Izua is just 11 kilometers from the finish — and it’s a beast. Only 3.5 kilometers long, but averaging a brutal 10.6%. And, as is typical in the Basque Country, the gradients are anything but steady: the steepest ramps pitch up to a savage 20%! It’s a true old-school slog, and given the climb’s location, it’s bound to produce a spectacular showdown before the descent into the finish in Markina-Xemein.

Check out the steep final climb below:

Times
Start: 1:15 PM local time (7:15 AM EDT)
Finish: approx. 5:30 PM local time (11:30 AM EDT)

Weather stage 4 Tour of the Basque Country 2025

Conditions at the start in Beasain will be pleasant, with mild temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and sunshine. It will only get warmer as the day progresses: temperatures in the finish town of Markina-Xemein could reach 23°C (73°F), though there's a small chance of a light shower. It won’t rain heavily, and wind is unlikely to play a role.

Favorites stage 4 Tour of the Basque Country 2025

Stage three was still open to a variety of rider types, but stage four is firmly one for the climbers — not just the punchy fast men. So, who impressed on Wednesday’s climbs? João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) wasn’t in great position initially, but fought his way to the front and showed his strength. But Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe) may have looked even more powerful on the steep ramps.

Of course, Enric Mas must be mentioned. The Spaniard from Movistar finished fourth in stage three and is clearly in form. Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike) also rode impressively — he’s showing excellent form, and how special would it be if he could finally get a win? Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl–Trek) is having a great start to the Basque Country tour. After finishing third overall last year, he’s aiming to go all the way this time.

Read more below the photo!

Beyond the top favorites, there are several strong outsiders. UAE Team Emirates also has Isaac Del Toro and Brandon McNulty as potential threats. Others who’ve had quieter races so far will hope for a breakthrough in stage four — like Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) and Harald Tejada (XDS Astana). You also can’t forget Romain Grégoire (Groupama–FDJ), winner of the previous stage. And what about Maximilian Schachmann? The German is looking stronger than ever. He typically prefers shorter climbs, but in this kind of form… who knows?

Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) could also shine on a tough climb like this — think of his legendary win on the Cuitu Negru in the Vuelta a España. Simone Velasco (XDS Astana) couldn’t quite follow the best in stage three, but the Belgians certainly could: both Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) and Steff Cras (TotalEnergies) have been climbing superbly so far. They’re not the fastest finishers, so they’ll have to hope for a sneaky attack to succeed.

Favorites stage 4 Tour of the Basque Country 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com

Top favorites: João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) and Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Outsiders: Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), Enric Mas (Movistar), Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal Quick-Step) and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Long shots: Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike), Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Steff Cras (TotalEnergies), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Harald Tejada (XDS Astana), Isaac Del Toro, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) and Simone Velasco (XDS Astana)

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