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{{Short description|Spanish multi-day road cycling race}}
{{Infobox cycling race
| name          = Tour of the Basque Country
| current_event = 
| image         = [[File:Tour of the Basque Country logo.svg|300px]]
| date          = Early-April
| region        = [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Spanish Basque Country]]
| english       = Tour of the Basque Country
| localnames    = {{Unbulleted list|Vuelta al País Vasco {{in lang|es}}|Euskal Herriko itzulia {{in lang|eu}}}}
| nickname      = 
| discipline    = [[Road bicycle racing|Road]]
| competition   = [[UCI World Tour]]
| type          = [[Major one week stage races (cycling)|Major one week stage race]]
| organiser     = 
| director      = 
| first         = {{start date|1924}}
| number        = 64 (as of 2025)
| last          = 
| firstwinner   = {{flagathlete|[[Francis Pélissier]]|FRA}}
| mostwins      = {{Unbulleted list|{{flagathlete|[[José Antonio González Linares|José Antonio González]]|ESP|1945}}|{{flagathlete|[[Alberto Contador]]|ESP}}|''(4 wins each)''}}
| mostrecent    = {{flagathlete|[[João Almeida (cyclist)|João Almeida]]|POR}}
}}

The '''Tour of the Basque Country''' (Officially: ''Itzulia Basque Country'')<ref>{{langx|es|Vuelta al País Vasco|links=no}}, {{langx|eu|Euskal Herriko Itzulia}}</ref> is an annual [[road bicycle racing|road cycling]] stage race held in the [[Southern Basque Country|Spanish Basque Country]] in April. It is one of the races that make up the [[UCI World Tour]] calendar. As the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque Country]] is a mountainous area, there are few flat stages, and thus the event favors those who are strong [[climbing specialist|climber]]s. The race is characterized by its short stages, rarely exceeding 200&nbsp;km, and steep ascents. While the ascents featured in the race are not particularly high compared to other stage races, they are among the steepest seen in professional cycling, some having sections with [[Grade (slope)|gradients]] reaching well above 20%.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Middendorp |first1=Koen |title=Voorbeschouwing: Ronde van Het Baskenland 2019 |url=https://www.wielerflits.be/nieuws/voorbeschouwing-ronde-van-het-baskenland-2019/ |website=Wieleflirts |access-date=12 April 2019}}</ref>

==History==
The original Tour of the Basque Country had a troubled history, with eight editions contested between 1924 and 1935, before the [[Spanish Civil War]] seemingly wiped it out for good. One of these early editions is commentated on in [[Ernest Hemingway]]'s 1926 novel ''[[The Sun Also Rises]]''.

In 1952, the [[Eibar]] Cycling Club (erstwhile backers of Spain's first national stage race, the pre-[[Vuelta a España]] ''Gran Premio República'') launched a new 3-day event called ''Gran Premio de la Bicicleta Eibarresa'' to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Former French national champion [[Louis Caput]] took the inaugural edition.

In 1969, organizers opted to promote the race (by then five stages long) as ''IX Vuelta al País Vasco - XVIII Bicicleta Eibarresa'', effectively merging the Bicicleta Eibarresa into a reborn Tour of the Basque Country. However, the palmares of the Bicicleta Eibarresa (featuring Vuelta a España winners [[Jesús Loroño]] and [[Rolf Wolfshohl]]) is not recognized as part of the Tour of the Basque Country's history. The Eibar Cycling Club would relinquish control of the competition following the 1973 edition, while retaining the rights to the ''Bicicleta Eibarresa'' name, which has sporadically been reactivated to help promote other, lower ranked events.

The first winner of the Tour of the Basque Country was [[Francis Pélissier]] from France, while the first winner of the 'modern' Tour (1969) was [[Jacques Anquetil]], also of France. The most successful riders in the history of the Tour are Spain's [[José Antonio González Linares|José Antonio González]], who won the race four times in 1972, 1975, 1977 and 1978, and Spain's [[Alberto Contador]], who also won the race four times in 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2016.  Since its revival in 1969, it has been held every year with the exception of 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

From 2022, the race has a counterpart in the [[UCI Women's World Tour]] - the [[Itzulia Women]]. 

The winner traditionally dons a [[basque beret]] on the podium.

==Winners==
<small>Source:<ref>{{cite web |title=Itzulia Basque Country past winners 1924 to 2021 |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/itzulia-basque-country-2022/race-history/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en |date=31 March 2022}}</ref></small>
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1924 Tour of the Basque Country|1924]]|name={{sortname|Francis|Pélissier||Pelissier, Francis}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1925 Tour of the Basque Country|1925]]|name={{sortname|Auguste|Verdyck}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1926 Tour of the Basque Country|1926]]|name={{sortname|Nicolas|Frantz}}|nat=LUX|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1927 Tour of the Basque Country|1927]]|name={{sortname|Victor|Fontan}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1928 Tour of the Basque Country|1928]]|name={{sortname|Maurice|De Waele}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1929 Tour of the Basque Country|1929]]|name={{sortname|Maurice|De Waele}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1930 Tour of the Basque Country|1930]]|name={{sortname|Mariano|Cañardo||Canardo, Mariano}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1785|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=1931–<br>1934}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1935 Tour of the Basque Country|1935]]|name={{sortname|Gino|Bartali}}|nat=ITA|natvar=1861|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=1936–<br>1968}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1969 Tour of the Basque Country|1969]]|name={{sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1970 Tour of the Basque Country|1970]]|name={{sortname|Luis Pedro|Santamarina}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1971 Tour of the Basque Country|1971]]|name={{sortname|Luis|Ocaña||Ocana, Luis}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1972 Tour of the Basque Country|1972]]|name={{sortname|José Antonio|González|José Antonio González Linares|Gonzalez, Jose Antonio}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1973 Tour of the Basque Country|1973]]|name={{sortname|Luis|Ocaña||Ocana, Luis}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1974 Tour of the Basque Country|1974]]|name={{sortname|Miguel María|Lasa}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1975 Tour of the Basque Country|1975]]|name={{sortname|José Antonio|González|José Antonio González Linares|Gonzalez, Jose Antonio}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1976 Tour of the Basque Country|1976]]|name={{sortname|Gianbattista|Baronchelli}}|nat=ITA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1977 Tour of the Basque Country|1977]]|name={{sortname|José Antonio|González|José Antonio González Linares|Gonzalez, Jose Antonio}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1977|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1978 Tour of the Basque Country|1978]]|name={{sortname|José Antonio|González|José Antonio González Linares|Gonzalez, Jose Antonio}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1977|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1979 Tour of the Basque Country|1979]]|name={{sortname|Giovanni|Battaglin}}|nat=ITA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1980 Tour of the Basque Country|1980]]|name={{sortname|Alberto|Fernández|Alberto Fernández (cyclist)|Fernandez, Alberto}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1977|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1981 Tour of the Basque Country|1981]]|name={{sortname|Silvano|Contini}}|nat=ITA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1982 Tour of the Basque Country|1982]]|name={{sortname|José Luis|Laguía||Laguia, Jose Luis}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|Reynolds|1982}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1983 Tour of the Basque Country|1983]]|name={{sortname|Julián|Gorospe}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|Reynolds|1983}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1984 Tour of the Basque Country|1984]]|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|SKIL|1984}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1985 Tour of the Basque Country|1985]]|name={{sortname|Pello|Ruiz Cabestany}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|Artiach|1985b}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1986 Tour of the Basque Country|1986]]|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|KAS|1986}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1987 Tour of the Basque Country|1987]]|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|KAS|1987}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1988 Tour of the Basque Country|1988]]|name={{sortname|Erik|Breukink}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|PSC|1988}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1989 Tour of the Basque Country|1989]]|name={{sortname|Stephen|Roche}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|Fagor2|1989}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1990 Tour of the Basque Country|1990]]|name={{sortname|Julián|Gorospe}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|GCE|1990}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1991 Tour of the Basque Country|1991]]|name={{sortname|Claudio|Chiappucci}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|CAR|1991}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1992 Tour of the Basque Country|1992]]|name={{sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|CLA|1992}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1993 Tour of the Basque Country|1993]]|name={{sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|CLA|1993}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1994 Tour of the Basque Country|1994]]|name={{sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|MAP|1994}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1995 Tour of the Basque Country|1995]]|name={{sortname|Alex|Zülle||Zulle, Alex}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|ONC|1995}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1996 Tour of the Basque Country|1996]]|name={{sortname|Francesco|Casagrande}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|SAE|1996}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1997 Tour of the Basque Country|1997]]|name={{sortname|Alex|Zülle||Zulle, Alex}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|ONC|1997}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1998 Tour of the Basque Country|1998]]|name={{sortname|Íñigo|Cuesta||Cuesta, Inigo}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|ONC|1998}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1999 Tour of the Basque Country|1999]]|name={{sortname|Laurent|Jalabert}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|ONC|1999}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2000 Tour of the Basque Country|2000]]|name={{sortname|Andreas|Klöden||Kloden, Andreas}}|nat=GER|team={{UCI team code|TMO|2000}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2001 Tour of the Basque Country|2001]]|name={{sortname|Raimondas|Rumšas||Rumsas, Raimondas}}|nat=LTU|team={{UCI team code|FAS|2001}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2002 Tour of the Basque Country|2002]]|name={{sortname|Aitor|Osa}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|GCE|2002}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2003 Tour of the Basque Country|2003]]|name={{sortname|Iban|Mayo}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|EUS|2003}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2004 Tour of the Basque Country|2004]]|name={{sortname|Denis|Menchov}}|nat=RUS|team={{UCI team code|GCE|2004}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2005 Tour of the Basque Country|2005]]|name={{sortname|Danilo|Di Luca}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|LIQ|2005}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2006 Tour of the Basque Country|2006]]|name={{sortname|José Ángel|Gómez Marchante||Gomez Merchante, Jose Angel}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|FUJ|2006}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2007 Tour of the Basque Country|2007]]|name={{sortname|Juan José|Cobo||Cobo, Juan Jose}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|FUJ|2007}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2008 Tour of the Basque Country|2008]]|name={{sortname|Alberto|Contador}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|AST|2008}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2009 Tour of the Basque Country|2009]]|name={{sortname|Alberto|Contador}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|AST|2009}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2010 Tour of the Basque Country|2010]]|name={{sortname|Chris|Horner}}|nat=USA|team={{UCI team code|RSH|2010}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2011 Tour of the Basque Country|2011]]|name={{sortname|Andreas|Klöden}}|nat=GER|team={{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2012 Tour of the Basque Country|2012]]|name={{sortname|Samuel|Sánchez}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|EUS|2012}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2013 Tour of the Basque Country|2013]]|name={{sortname|Nairo|Quintana}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|MOV|2013}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2014 Tour of the Basque Country|2014]]|name={{sortname|Alberto|Contador}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2014}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2015 Tour of the Basque Country|2015]]|name={{sortname|Joaquim|Rodríguez}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|KAT|2015}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2016 Tour of the Basque Country|2016]]|name={{sortname|Alberto|Contador}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|TNK|2016}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2017 Tour of the Basque Country|2017]]|name={{sortname|Alejandro|Valverde}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|MOV|2017}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2018 Tour of the Basque Country|2018]]|name={{sortname|Primož|Roglič}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|TLJ|2018}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2019 Tour of the Basque Country|2019]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Barry |title=Tour of the Basque Country 2019: Stage 6 Results |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-the-basque-country-2019/stage-6/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en |date=13 April 2019}}</ref>|name={{sortname|Ion|Izagirre}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|AST|2019}}}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=2020 |reason= the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2021 Tour of the Basque Country|2021]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Primoz Roglic wins Itzulia Basque Country |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/itzulia-basque-country-2021/stage-6/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en |date=10 April 2021}}</ref>|name={{sortname|Primož|Roglič}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2021}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2022 Tour of the Basque Country|2022]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Patrick |title=Daniel Martínez wins Itzulia Basque Country |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/itzulia-basque-country-2022/stage-6/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en |date=9 April 2022}}</ref>|name={{sortname|Daniel|Martínez|Daniel Martínez (cyclist)}}|nat=COL|team={{UCI team code|IGD|2022}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2023 Tour of the Basque Country|2023]]|name={{sortname|Jonas|Vingegaard}}|nat=DEN|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2023}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2024 Tour of the Basque Country|2024]]|name={{sortname|Juan|Ayuso}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|UAE|2024}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2025 Tour of the Basque Country|2025]]|name={{sortname|João|Almeida|dab=cyclist}}|nat=POR|team={{UCI team code|UAD}}}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

===Multiple winners===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Wins
! Rider
! Editions
|-
| align=center rowspan=2| '''4''' || {{flagathlete|[[José Antonio González (cyclist)|José Antonio González]]|ESP}} ||align=right| [[1972 Tour of the Basque Country|1972]], [[1975 Tour of the Basque Country|1975]], [[1977 Tour of the Basque Country|1977]], [[1978 Tour of the Basque Country|1978]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Alberto Contador]]|ESP}} ||align=right| [[2008 Tour of the Basque Country|2008]], [[2009 Tour of the Basque Country|2009]], [[2015 Tour of the Basque Country|2015]], [[2016 Tour of the Basque Country|2016]]
|-
| align=center rowspan=2| '''3''' || {{flagathlete|[[Sean Kelly (cyclist)|Sean Kelly]]|IRL}} ||align=right| [[1984 Tour of the Basque Country|1984]], [[1986 Tour of the Basque Country|1986]], [[1987 Tour of the Basque Country|1987]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Tony Rominger]]|SUI}} ||align=right| [[1992 Tour of the Basque Country|1992]], [[1993 Tour of the Basque Country|1993]], [[1994 Tour of the Basque Country|1994]]
|-
| align=center rowspan=6 | '''2''' || {{flagathlete|[[Maurice Dewaele]]|BEL}} ||align=right| [[1928 Tour of the Basque Country|1928]], [[1929 Tour of the Basque Country|1929]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Luis Ocaña]]|ESP}} ||align=right| [[1971 Tour of the Basque Country|1971]], [[1973 Tour of the Basque Country|1973]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Julián Gorospe]]|ESP}} ||align=right| [[1983 Tour of the Basque Country|1983]], [[1990 Tour of the Basque Country|1990]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Alex Zülle]]|SUI}} ||align=right| [[1995 Tour of the Basque Country|1995]], [[1997 Tour of the Basque Country|1997]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Andreas Klöden]]|GER}} ||align=right| [[2000 Tour of the Basque Country|2000]], [[2011 Tour of the Basque Country|2011]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Primož Roglič]]|SLO}} ||align=right| [[2018 Tour of the Basque Country|2018]], [[2021 Tour of the Basque Country|2021]]
|}

===Most stage wins===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! # !!Rider !! Stage wins
|-
| rowspan=2|1
| {{flagathlete|[[Domingo Perurena]]|ESP}}
| align="center"|11
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Seán Kelly (cyclist)|Seán Kelly]]|IRL}}
| align="center"|11
|-
| 3
| | {{flagathlete|[[Laurent Jalabert]]|FRA}}
| align="center"|9
|-
| rowspan=2|4
| {{flagathlete|[[Tony Rominger]]|SUI}}
| align="center"|8
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Samuel Sánchez]]|ESP}}
| align="center"|8
|-
| 6
| {{flagathlete|[[Alberto Contador]]|ESP}}
| align="center"|7
|-
| rowspan=3|7
| {{flagathlete|[[Miguel María Lasa]]|ESP}}
| align="center"|6
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Joaquim Rodriguez]]|ESP}}
| align="center"|6
|-
|{{flagathlete|''[[Alejandro Valverde]]''|ESP}}
| align="center"|6
|-
| rowspan=3|9
| {{flagathlete|[[José Antonio González Linares]]|ESP}}
| align="center"|5
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Stefano Zanini]]|ITA}}
| align="center"|5
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Primož Roglič ]]|SVN}}
| align="center"|5
|}

===Wins per country===
{| class="wikitable"
! Wins !! Country
|-
| align=center | 28 || {{ESP}}
|-
| align=center | 7 || {{ITA}}
|-
| align=center | 5 || {{SUI}}
|-
| align=center | 4 || {{FRA}} <br />{{IRL}}
|-
| align=center | 3 || {{BEL}}
|-
| align=center | 2 || {{COL}}<br />{{GER}}<br />{{SLO}}
|-
| align=center | 1 || {{DEN}}<br />{{LTU}}<br />{{LUX}}<br />{{NED}}<br />{{POR}}<br />{{RUS}}<br />{{USA}}
|}

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.itzulia.eus}} {{in lang|es}}
*{{Cycling archives race|395}}

{{Vuelta al Pais Vasco}}
{{UCI World Tour}}
{{UCI ProTour}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tour of the Basque Country}}
[[Category:Tour of the Basque Country| ]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1924]]
[[Category:UCI ProTour races]]
[[Category:Cycle races in the Basque Country]]
[[Category:UCI World Tour races]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in the Basque Country (autonomous community)]]