Itzulia Basque Country

Recent editions have usually opened with a short, hilly time trial; in earlier years the time trial often came on the last day. From there, stages rarely run especially long, but the roads pitch up and down constantly through forested valleys, with narrow descents that reward technical confidence. Summit finishes and punchy hilltop arrivals separate the GC contenders, while time gaps accumulate across multiple days rather than one giant mountain stage. The terrain favors riders who can climb hard at threshold again and again, then recover overnight and do it all over the next day.