Favorites stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025 | Will we see big shake-ups again in the brutal final stage?

After another tricky course on Friday, Saturday brings the grand finale of the Tour of the Basque Country. In the final stage around Eibar, riders will get one last chance to shine in the Basque hills. Will the overall classification be decided on the final day? IDLProCycling.com tells you everything you need to know

Route stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025

By now, the final stage to and from Eibar has become a tradition in the Tour of the Basque Country and rightfully so. The route is spectacular and, on paper, the toughest stage of the week. It may be only 153 kilometers long, but it packs a punch with 3,700 meters of elevation gain. That means we’re in for some classic climbing in the hills around the Basque city. Last year, the race also finished in Eibar, and it was Juan Ayuso who delivered a decisive blow by taking the leader’s jersey from Mattias Skjelmose. This year could easily bring even bigger changes.

The toughest section of the stage actually comes early. Right off the bat, riders face the Elkorrieta climb (2.6 km at 6.7%), followed immediately by the Azuki (5.1 km at 7.4%), which features a particularly steep middle section. These two early climbs are followed by the hardest of the day: the Krabelin, a brutal 5-kilometer ascent averaging 9.6%.

In the middle section follow the Trabakua and the climb to Karabieta, after which the finale opens with the steep climb to Izua (4.1 km at 9.2%). That climb was already included in the course: João Almeida rushed away from his competitors there on Thursday. The last categorized climb is a new ascent to Trabakua, after which the riders will rush to the finish on undulating terrain.

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Weather stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025

Riders could be in for an unpleasant surprise on Saturday, with a 95% chance of rain in the forecast. Temperatures will remain pleasant, peaking at 21°C in the afternoon. A light breeze is expected but shouldn’t play a significant role in the race.

Favorites stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025

Who wins the final stage in Eibar largely depends on how the race unfolds. With plenty still up for grabs in the general classification, we can expect the GC contenders to go on the attack. So far, João Almeida looks tough to beat. He also has the advantage of a superb domestique in Isaac Del Toro. And if it comes down to a sprint, the Mexican rider from UAE Team Emirates–XRG is one of the faster finishers.

Who poses the biggest threat to the GC leader? That looks to be Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe). The German is only 38 seconds behind and will likely see opportunities in this final stage. While Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) may pose less danger for the GC, the Spanish champion is racing close to home and has been one of the strongest riders in recent stages. He’s climbing better than ever and has a strong sprint, definitely one to watch!

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Favorites stage 6 Tour of the Basque Country 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com

Top favorite: João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates - XRG)
Outsiders:Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) en Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG)
Long shots: Enric Mas (Movistar), Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), Wilco Kelderman (visma | Lease a Bike), Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers), Clément Champoussin, Simone Velasco (XDS Astana), Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost) en Thibau Nys

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