Published on : 04/28/2026
Remarkably consistent at the highest level since the start of the season and now an essential figure within the Cofidis team, the 37-year-old Basque rider will take part in the next Tour de France. Already a two-time stage winner at the race (2016 and 2023), he will do everything he can to raise his arms again and continue his exceptional season.
At 37, Ion Izagirre possesses rare experience and expertise at the very highest level. One need only look at his start to the season to be convinced of this. At Paris–Nice, he broke into the top 10 of the general classification as early as stage 5, before finishing in 7th place at the end of the week. After a training camp in Tenerife with his friend Alex Aranburu, it was on home soil, in the Basque Country, that he shone. Ion won solo at the Grand Prix Miguel Indurain after a race he controlled from start to finish. Then, at the Tour of the Basque Country, he had a brilliant week: three top-10 finishes and 4th place in the general classification. In the wake of this, Ion secured a fine honourable mention at the Flèche Wallonne (7th) and gave it his all at Liège-Bastogne-Liège to battle for third place (21st).
Heading for a 12th Tour de France appearance
Beyond his results, it is his mindset that is truly impressive. Ion never shies away from hard work, hanging on to the wheel of the best riders – whether it’s Jonas Vingegaard at Paris-Nice or Paul Seixas at the Tour of the Basque Country – and fighting for his chance right to the very end. At 37, he displays a striking freshness and determination. This level of fitness has led him, in consultation with the Cofidis team staff, to take part in the upcoming Tour de France. This will be his 12th appearance; he remains the last Cofidis rider to have won a stage there, at Belleville-en-Beaujolais, in 2023.
Cofidis’s sporting management has adjusted the Basque rider’s schedule accordingly to ensure he is fully prepared for the Tour de France. Ion will take part in a three-week training camp in the Sierra Nevada (Spain) towards the end of May. He is expected to return to competition at the Route d’Occitanie (18–20 June) and the Andorra Classica (21 June). After that, it will be time to head to Barcelona for the Tour’s grand departure, with the first stage taking place on Saturday 4 July.
HIS IMMEDIATE REACTION
Ion Izagirre :
“The work we’ve put in with the team since the off-season is paying off, and I’m delighted about that. I’m in great shape and I’m really happy to be performing at my best in every race. At the start of the season, we hadn’t included the Tour de France in my objectives. I didn’t feel great last year because it’s a race you can’t tackle unless you’re 100 per cent fit. My results and, above all, my form over the last few weeks have encouraged us to consider taking part again this year. And I feel extremely motivated by this latest challenge. I want to be highly competitive, support our sprinters when needed and try my luck at securing a victory with a breakaway that goes all the way.”
