Following the mass sprint excitement of stage 2 in the streets of Lodosa, the organizers of Itzulia Basque Country 2025 invited the professional cycling peloton to a challenge in mountainous terrain, hoping the climbers and general classification favorites would shine and create a spectacular experience for cycling fans along the roads and around the world.

Stage 3 would be contested on a 156.3-kilometer route from Zarautz to Beasain. The stage profile was of a mountainous nature and included five Category 3 climbs and two Category 2 climbs. The Gainza climb was located after 120 kilometers of racing and featured sections of up to twenty percent. The Lazkaomendi climb was be located shortly before the stage finish and included explosive sections of up to eighteen percent.

Maximillian Schachmann remained general classification leader in Itzulia Basque Country 2025 (Tour of the Basque Country) before stage 3. Joao Almeida was in second place for UAE Team Emirates, while Florian Lipowitz was third for Team Red Bull – Bora - Hansgrohe. 

Multiple attack efforts were launched in the first part of the race. It did, however, take a while before a durable breakaway would be formed. Matteo Vercher (Team TotalEnergies) and Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) attacked with approximately 130 kilometers remaining. Bruno Armirail proved stronger than Vercher and showed great bravery by launching a solo attack and setting out on a grand adventure in the Basque mountains. 

When less than one hundred kilometers remained of the stage, Bruno Armirail had an advantage of approximately one minute over the closest competitors. Meanwhile, additional attacks had been launched from the main peloton and small attack groups had formed before the Santa Ageda climb (Category Two).

While Frenchman Armirail pressed on solo in front, the chase groups behind him were reeled in by the main peloton, where the general classification-focused teams had increased the pace on the Category 2 climb.

Three strong riders attacked from the main peloton with about 75 kilometers left of the stage. The trio featured Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates), Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), and Sepp Kuss of Team Visma-Lease a Bike. It did, however, not take long before the breakaway optimists were reeled in by the peloton.

The category Two Mandubia climb was next on the menu for sole frontman Armirail. But the peloton was closing in on him and he would likely be caught on the climb. The speed in the peloton was so intense that many riders had been dropped at this point in the stage.

It was au revoir for Armirail 73 kilometers from the finish line. Riders from Team Cofidis and UAE Team Emirates were first to pass by the Frenchman.

With the speed and action having intensified in the reduced front peloton group, EF Education-EasyPost team leader Ben Healy was also dropped. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe riders were leading the peloton, while Harold Tejada and Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) had formed a ten second gap and were ahead of the peloton. 65 kilometers remained and the riders were on the fast descent from the Category Two mountain.

Tejada and McNulty were caught. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Clement Berthet (Decathlon-AG2R), and Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) later tried their luck and had fought their way to a one-minute lead with fifty kilometers left to race before the finish line in Beasain.

Molard, Soler and Berthet were still one minute ahead of the peloton when forty kilometers remained. The speed was fast on the narrow mountain roads of the Basque country.

Attila Valter was leading the main peloton for Team Visma-Lease a Bike on the Gainza climb. Meanwhile, Molard got dropped from the breakaway trio. Later, Soler was the unfortunate one. Berthet was now solo in front on the Gainza climb, which featured gradients of up to twenty percent.

Sixteen riders remained part of the reduced peloton, which was chasing the three riders in front.

Race leader Maximillian Schachmann (Soudal-QuickStep) tried his luck in the flat section with approximately twenty-five kilometers remaining. He was looking good in the yellow race leader jersey. Soler and Molard got reeled in. Berthet was still in front.

Twenty kilometers remained of stage 3 and Berthet led the stage with a 35 second advantage over an eleven-man chase group, which featured Axel Laurance, Leo Bisiaux, Florian Lipowitz, Aleksandr Vlasov, Nelson Oliveira, Warren Barguil, Guillaume Martin, Maximilian Schachmann, Unai Iribar, Manuel Diaz, and Harold Tejada. 

Further back, a twenty-four-man peloton group was chasing, but with a one-minute delay. The group featured strong GC riders, including Matias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek).

Ten kilometers remained and the riders were approaching the Lazkaomendi climb (Category 3), which featured gradients of up to seventeen percent. Frontman Berthet would likely be in trouble on the climb, as the GC favorites would be eager to use the opportunity to their own advantage, hoping to advance in the rankings and perhaps even take a stage victory.

Tejada attacked from the chase group when the riders entered the Lazkaomendi climb. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal-QuickStep) responded, and the trio caught frontman Berthet. 

Lipowitz and Schachmann were caught. A new seven-man front group had been formed on the climb. A fast and dangerous descent awaited the riders while battling for a stage victory and advancement in the general classification. More riders joined from behind.

Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) attacked on the descent. Alex Aranburu accelerated and caught Almeida. Less than three kilometers remained.

Almeida almost crashed in a roundabout and Aranburu continued solo. But the chasing riders were just a few meters behind.

Spanish National Champion Alex Aranburu crossed the finish line solo as winner of stage 3 for Team Cofidis. Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) was the next rider across the finish line three seconds later, while Maximilian Schachmann completed the stage podium for Soudal-QuickStep.

Schachmann remains general classification leader for Soudal-QuickStep. Florian Lipowitz is second, while Joao Almeida is in third place. Mattias Skjelmose is fifth, Wilco Kelderman sixth, while Enric Mas is tenth before tomorrow’s stage 4 of Itzulia Basque Country 2025, which will be a 169.5-kilometer stage in mountain territory on the roads between Beasain and Markina-Xemein.

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