Alex Aranburu delivered the ride of his career on home roads in stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country, blasting past Tobias Halland Johannessen on the final uphill finish to claim Cofidis’s first WorldTour victory of 2026. The stage, which covered 176.2 kilometres with 3,841 metres of climbing, culminated in a brutal selective finale that rewarded Aranburu’s patience and explosive punch.
Behind the stage battle, the race’s bigger story continued to unfold. Overall leader Paul Seixas — the 19-year-old Decathlon CMA CGM rider who stunned the peloton by winning both the opening time trial and stage 2 — used the chaos of the day to extend his GC advantage further, now leading Primož Roglič by 2 minutes and 19 seconds with just one stage remaining.
How the Stage Unfolded
Stage 4 was always earmarked as one of the most demanding days in this year’s Itzulia, with seven categorised climbs packed into the route through the mountainous Basque interior. The race developed into a war of attrition from the opening kilometres, with teams attempting to control a series of aggressive breakaway attempts on the early ascents.
The decisive action came on the penultimate climb, where a select group of around 15 riders established a gap over the remnants of the peloton. Among them was Aranburu, who had been riding conservatively in the wheels, sheltered by his Cofidis teammates through the early mountains. As the road kicked up toward the line in the final two kilometres, Aranburu launched his sprint from distance, coming around Johannessen with a burst of power that the Norwegian could not answer.
For Cofidis, the victory ends a frustrating drought at the sport’s highest level. The French team has been rebuilding its roster with a focus on puncheurs and Classics riders, and Aranburu’s win validates that investment. The Basque rider’s emotional celebration at the line — pointing to the roadside fans who had cheered him by name through every climb — captured the intensity of winning on home territory.
The Seixas Phenomenon Continues
While Aranburu took the headlines for the stage, Seixas once again demonstrated tactical maturity far beyond his 19 years. Rather than chasing the stage win, the Frenchman rode defensively in the GC group, following the wheels of Roglič and Florian Lipowitz without ever looking troubled on the steep gradients. He crossed the line safely with the main contenders and gained further time on several rivals who were dropped on the final climbs.
Seixas’s lead of 2:19 over Roglič going into the final stage — a hilly 161-kilometre run — looks virtually unassailable. If he can navigate the final day without incident, he will become one of the youngest stage race winners in WorldTour history, a remarkable achievement for the teenager who was racing amateur events just 18 months ago.
The Day’s Casualties
Stage 4 added to an already brutal week of casualties in the Basque Country. Juan Ayuso abandoned through illness, joining an extensive casualty list that already included Isaac del Toro, who crashed out in stage 3. Del Toro’s crash was particularly costly — the young Mexican rider had been considered a potential GC contender before hitting the deck on a fast descent, ending his race and raising concerns about his fitness heading into the Ardennes Classics.
The attrition highlights the demanding nature of this year’s Itzulia route, which has been described by riders as one of the toughest editions in recent memory. Every stage has featured significant climbing, and the accumulated fatigue has taken a visible toll on the peloton with each passing day.
What This Means for the Spring Calendar
The Itzulia sits at a pivotal point in the racing calendar, bridging the Flemish Classics with the upcoming Ardennes campaign. For riders like Aranburu, a stage win here builds confidence heading into the Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, where his punchy finishing style translates well to the hilly profiles.
For the Tour de France contenders who used the Itzulia as preparation, the race has served its purpose as a fitness test. Roglič’s second place on GC — despite being unable to match Seixas — suggests the Slovenian veteran is building toward peak form for July’s Grand Départ in Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Paris-Roubaix arrives on Sunday, and the contrast could not be sharper: from the mountain roads of the Basque Country to the bone-rattling cobblestones of northern France. For the cycling calendar, April remains the cruelest and most compelling month of the season.
Stage 4 Key Results
Stage winner: Alex Aranburu (Cofidis)
Second: Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility)
Overall leader: Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) — 2:19 ahead of Primož Roglič
Third overall: Florian Lipowitz — 2:28 behind Seixas
Source: Cyclingnews, CyclingUpToDate, Canadian Cycling Magazine. Stage 5 (the final stage) takes place on Friday, April 11.
