A punchy Basque circuit race held in memory of Ricardo and Javier Otxoa, where positioning and timing matter more than raw power.
Circuito de Getxo - Memorial Hermanos Otxoa is a one-day men's race held each August in Getxo, a coastal town in Spain's Basque Country. The race honors Ricardo and Javier Otxoa, two brothers whose careers defined an era of Spanish cycling before tragedy struck.
Ricardo Otxoa won stages at the Vuelta and Giro before the 2001 accident that ended his career and left his brother Javier with lasting injuries.
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This is a circuit race with meaning beyond the result. The Otxoa brothers were among the most promising Spanish riders of their generation until a training accident in 2001 ended both careers. The race carries that weight quietly, and the Basque crowds turn out for it. The course rewards sharp positioning and well-timed accelerations rather than sustained climbing power, which keeps the finale open longer than you might expect.
The Getxo circuit typically features multiple laps with short, punchy climbs and technical descents that prevent the race from settling into a pure sprinter's affair. Positioning becomes critical in the final laps as the course narrows and the accelerations multiply. Riders who can handle repeated changes of pace without burning matches too early tend to arrive at the finish with options. The coastal wind can also play a role, splitting groups or forcing early moves if it blows hard enough. This is not a race won by sitting in until the last kilometer. You need to be near the front when the decisive move goes, and that move can come earlier than the final lap if someone reads the group correctly.
Multiple laps of a circuit through Getxo with short, punchy climbs and technical descents that prevent the race from settling into a pure sprint.
Named for Ricardo and Javier Otxoa, two brothers whose careers were cut short by tragedy. The race carries emotional weight for Basque cycling.
The circuit format means positioning becomes critical in the final laps. Riders who can move up efficiently and respond to late attacks tend to feature in the results.
Most recent winner: Isaac del Toro (2025)
Juan Ayuso won in Getxo as a teenager, one of the earliest victories in what would become a rapid rise to WorldTour prominence.
Isaac del Toro added Getxo to a spring that already included the UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico victories, confirming his arrival as a global talent.
Won in 2025 during a season where he was winning everything. His presence elevated the race profile beyond its usual continental field.
Won in 2022 as a teenager. Getxo was one of the first signals that Ayuso would be a rider to track at the highest level.
The 2023 winner brought Central Asian racing pedigree to a Basque race, showing the international reach of the Circuito de Getxo.
The coastal Basque town provides a circuit with short climbs and technical sections that create repeated selection opportunities.
Ricardo and Javier Otxoa were two of Spain most promising riders before a 2001 training accident ended both careers. The race honors their memory.
