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A Basque summer one-day race held in the hills around Ordizia

Clásica de Ordizia – Ordiziako Klasikoa

A sharp, hilly Basque one-day race that rewards positioning, acceleration, and the ability to handle late-July heat in northern Spain.

When
Fourth Saturday in July
Course
One Day
Also known as
Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia (former name)

About Clásica de Ordizia – Ordiziako Klasikoa

Clásica de Ordizia - Ordiziako Klasikoa is a men's one-day bike race held in late July in the Basque Country. The route centers on the town of Ordizia in Gipuzkoa province, typically featuring rolling terrain and short, punchy climbs that favor aggressive racing.

Also known as: Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia (former name) · Ordiziako Klasikoa

This is Basque summer racing at its most direct: short climbs, narrow roads, and a peloton that includes regional teams eager to prove themselves alongside continental squads. The race sits in the calendar's midsummer lull, which often produces open, unpredictable finales as riders arrive in varied form. The Basque Country's cycling culture ensures committed racing even when the international spotlight is elsewhere.

Clásica de Ordizia – Ordiziako Klasikoa winners

YearWinner
2026🇺🇾Guillermo Thomas Silva Coussan
2025🇪🇸Igor Arrieta
2024🇨🇭Jan Christen
2023🇨🇭Marc Hirschi
2022🇬🇧Simon Yates
2021🇪🇸Luis Leon Sanchez

Clásica de Ordizia – Ordiziako Klasikoa route

The course around Ordizia typically includes multiple laps or circuits over rolling terrain, with short climbs that never fully split the race but accumulate fatigue and create selection through repeated accelerations. The finale often comes down to a reduced group sprint or a late attack that survives because the chasers can't organize. Positioning into the final climbs matters more than raw power, and the winner usually emerges from a group of 10 to 30 riders who've survived the attrition without having the numbers to control it. Weather can be a factor: July in Gipuzkoa can bring heat, but also sudden rain that changes road conditions and risk calculations in the closing kilometers.

What shapes the race

  1. Basque climbing circuit

    The race uses a circuit around Ordizia in the Basque Country, with punchy climbs and technical descents that favor aggressive, climbing-oriented riders.

  2. Basque cycling culture

    Ordizia sits in the heart of Basque cycling country, where roadside support and racing knowledge run deep. The race benefits from passionate local crowds.

History

Iconic victories

  1. Marc Hirschi

    Won in 2023 with an attacking ride on the climbs. Hirschi aggressive style is well suited to the punchy Basque terrain.

  2. Simon Yates

    Won in 2022, lending Grand Tour credibility to a Basque continental race that attracts riders of the highest caliber.

  3. Luis Leon Sanchez

    A veteran of Spanish cycling who won in 2021, connecting the race to a generation of Basque and Spanish racing tradition.

Eras and records

One of Spain oldest one-day races, anchored in the Basque Country for over a century. The climbing circuit around Ordizia has tested riders across every era of professional cycling.

  1. First edition

    First held in 1922 as the Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia. With over a century of editions, it is one of the oldest one-day races in Spain.

  2. Century of racing

    Over 100 editions make this one of the longest-running continental races in Europe, a testament to the Basque Country love of cycling.