We are kicking off the month of April with one of the most important events on the international cycling calendar: the cycling race around the Basque Country. This year, the Itzulia is celebrating its 61st edition with six exciting stages that will take place between 4 and 9 April, with the support, once again, of Banco Sabadell.
Last Thursday, 24 March, the official presentation of the Itzulia took place, with the participation of Itziar Mahave, director of the Northern Commercial Network of Banco Sabadell. Mahave wanted to highlight the entity’s commitment to sport and, specifically, to this cycling event. ‘The 2022 Itzulia is the eleventh edition that we have supported.’ The director also referred to the importance of this event for the region, highlighting that ‘we have to support and promote cycling, a sport that has innate values such as commitment, effort, non-conformity and teamwork, all of which we share at Banco Sabadell.’
Six stages to enjoy the best cycling
The #Itzulia2022 will set off from Hondarribia and will cover 882.2 kilometres across six exciting stages. The Basque event will once again feature the best national and international teams. This year, 23 teams will participate, cycling through the towns of Leitza, Viana, Laudio, Amurrio, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Zamudio, Mallabia, and finishing in Eibar, with the traditional ascent to the Sanctuary of Arrate.
Next, we will review the route of the #Itzulia:
- Hondarribia: The 61st edition of the Itzulia will start in Hondarribia. This year, the race kicks off with a 7.5 km individual time trial around the centre and outskirts of the town, a very short stage with small slopes.
- Leitza – Viana: On the second day, riders face the longest stage of the Itzulia, stretching 207.92 km along Navarre’s roads between Leitza and Viana, with a challenging start.
- Laudio – Amurrio: The province of Álava hosts the third stage. This segment between Laudio and Amurrio is 181.72 km, with five mountain passes and a grueling section that will test the peloton’s endurance.
- Vitoria-Gasteiz – Ingeteam Parke Zamudio: In the fourth stage, the peloton will traverse the Alava and Vizcaya regions over 185 km, ending on a 4% gradient slope.
- Ingeteam Parke Zamudio – Mallabia: The fifth stage starts in the Zamudio Technology Park and is a tough 163.76 km course through rolling terrain.
- Eibar – Arrate: The final stage includes the grueling Arrate climb, a 135 km route with seven tough mountain passes, crowning the race champion atop Arrate.
The colours of victory
Winners of the 61st edition will wear custom-designed jerseys, with a special Banco Sabadell yellow jersey for the overall winner.
The Itzulia poster
This year’s poster was created by Bilbao artist Javier de Isusi, who won the Euskadi Prize for Literature in the Illustration category for his work ‘Transparent: Stories of Colombian Exile’.
We encourage you to follow the Itzulia on social media using the hashtag #Itzulia2022.
