Just 14 kilometres in, the riders crest the Elkorrieta – 2.6 kilometres at 6.7% – only to be thrown straight onto the slopes of the Azurki. And that one’s a real beast: 5.1 kilometres long with an average gradient of 7.4%. But that figure doesn’t tell the full story – the middle section ramps up to 10.9%, including a stretch at 16%.
The next test is even tougher. The Krabelin climb is 5 kilometres long and averages 9.6%. The middle part is ridiculously steep, with ramps up to 20%. In fact, the steepest 2.5 kilometres average a leg-melting 12.2%. And by the time the riders reach the top, they’ve not even done 50 kilometres yet. Brutal start, to say the least…
To be fair, the hardest part of the stage is now behind them – though with a start like that, “easier” is definitely relative. A descent takes the peloton to Markina, before they tackle the Trabakua: 3.3 kilometres at 7.1%. From the summit it’s not straight down – two more short climbs follow close together after a brief descent. The first kicks up at 10.2% for 650 metres, and the second climbs 1.2 kilometres at 4.6%.
Riders eyeing the stage win should be extra sharp, as that exact combo – the Trabakua and those two short climbs – also sets the scene for the finale later on.
The riders descend into Eibar and head up the Karabieta on the other side of the valley – 6.6 kilometres long at an average of 6.7%. And for once, it’s actually pretty steady all the way up.
Once back in the valley, the race heads back towards Eibar on an almost 20-kilometre flat section. Then the Izua climb kicks in – already featured in stage 4, but approached from a different side this time. That means 4.1 kilometres of hardship at a 9.2% gradient.
After the descent back into Markina, it’s time for the Trabakua again (3.3 kilometres at 7.1%), followed by those same two steep ramps mentioned earlier – 650 metres at 10.2% and 1.2 kilometres at 4.6%. From the top, there’s still 11 kilometres to go.
It starts with a fast descent, but just when you think it’s over, the riders hit one final wall: 460 metres at 10.4%. From there, it’s a rolling drop onto the final 2 flat kilometres to the line.
The first three riders across the line pick up 10, 6, and 4 bonus seconds, while the intermediate sprints come with 3, 2, and 1 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 6 Itzulia Basque Country 2025.
The 6th stage of the Tour of the Basque Country starts at 13:31 and the race is expected to finish around – both are local times (CET). See the timings in the slideshow below for details
Tour of the Basque Country 2025 stage 6: route, profile, more
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