Team Picnic PostNL

Itzulia Basque Country | Race Report

Itzulia Basque Country
April 6, 2026
Frank van den Broek
Frank van den Broek
Matthew Dinham
Matthew Dinham
Alexy Faure-Prost
Alexy Faure-Prost
James Knox
James Knox
Bjorn Koerdt
Bjorn Koerdt
Mattia Gaffuri
Mattia Gaffuri
Juan Guillermo Martinez
Juan Guillermo Martinez

Stage 5: Eibar -> Eibar

The iconic stage to and from Eibar once again delivered a tough day in Itzulia, with demanding climbs such as Krabelin, Trabakua and Izua setting the scene for an explosive finale. Early in the race, a large breakaway of 33 riders was given the freedom to go clear, including Mattia Gaffuri and Juan Martinez for Team Picnic PostNL. The group quickly built up a lead of around five minutes, appearing set to battle it out for the stage win among themselves.

However, the peloton had other plans. Increasing the pace significantly in the final part of the race, the breakaway was eventually reeled back in, turning the stage into a showdown for the GC contenders. Seixas claimed his third victory of the week, while Gaffuri was the first finisher for Team Picnic PostNL, crossing the line just outside the top 20.

Results

  • 39.151/H
  • 176.2KM
  • 4079M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1SEIXAS PaulDecathlon CMA CGM Team4:30:02.000-
2LIPOWITZ FlorianRed Bull - BORA - hansgrohe,,-
3ROMO JavierMovistar Team1:03.000-
21GAFFURI MattiaTeam Picnic PostNL9:28.000-
60MARTINEZ Juan GuillermoTeam Picnic PostNL18:19.000-
69FAURE PROST AlexyTeam Picnic PostNL21:16.000-
113KNOX JamesTeam Picnic PostNL27:49.000-
115KOERDT BjornTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
119DINHAM MatthewTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
127VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

Stage 3: Basauri -> Basauri

Much like the previous day’s racing, the third day at Itzulia saw an even more fierce battle for the breakaway which continued for almost 60 kilometres. Team Picnic PostNL were present in various earlier editions of caught moves, but when a ten rider group had gone clear that the team missed, Matt Dinham jumped from the peloton and bridged with two others. Closing a 45 second gap on the climb took a lot of energy and the break had to ride hard to keep the peloton at bay, which was only at two minutes for a large portion of the day. Unfortunately, those earlier efforts saw Dinham lose contact from the head of the race on the last main categorised climb as the attacks started, and some remaining breakaway riders would fight for the stage win.

Results

  • 41.949/H
  • 152.8KM
  • 2709M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1LAURANCE AxelINEOS Grenadiers3:38:33.000-
2ARRIETA IgorUAE Team Emirates - XRG0:02.000-
3TESFATSION NatnaelMovistar Team0:14.000-
30KOERDT BjornTeam Picnic PostNL1:09.000-
53GAFFURI MattiaTeam Picnic PostNL1:36.000-
96DINHAM MatthewTeam Picnic PostNL11:34.000-
98MARTINEZ Juan GuillermoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
110KNOX JamesTeam Picnic PostNL13:27.000-
117VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL13:30.000-
135FAURE PROST AlexyTeam Picnic PostNL17:46.000-

Stage 2: Pamplona-Iruña -> Cuevas de Mendukilo

With some large gaps already from the opening time trial, Team Picnic PostNL targeted the breakaway on the second day of racing in the hope that the group would be given enough leeway to fight for the stage win. After some assertive riding from the squad, Frank van den Broek made it into the move of the day. However, they were only ever given roughly two minutes of an advantage and coming into the last main climb of the day it was clear that the GC riders from the peloton wanted to play for the stage win, with Van den Broek ultimately caught halfway up the ascent.

Results

  • 39.102/H
  • 164.1KM
  • 3191M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1SEIXAS PaulDecathlon CMA CGM Team4:11:48.000-
2SKJELMOSE MattiasLidl - Trek1:25.000-
3ROGLIČ PrimožRed Bull - BORA - hansgrohe,,-
36GAFFURI MattiaTeam Picnic PostNL4:18.000-
38FAURE PROST AlexyTeam Picnic PostNL4:23.000-
56MARTINEZ Juan GuillermoTeam Picnic PostNL11:22.000-
74DINHAM MatthewTeam Picnic PostNL14:00.000-
75KOERDT BjornTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
83VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL14:19.000-
98KNOX JamesTeam Picnic PostNL15:04.000-

Etappe 1: Bilbao – Bilbao

Team Picnic PostNL got their week of racing underway at Itzulia Basque Country with the opening individual time trial in Bilbao. The 13.8-kilometre route began in the city centre before heading out towards the hills on the outskirts, starting with the Alto de Santo Domingo, before returning to Bilbao with a short and steep kicker to the finish line. The team tackled the course with controlled efforts throughout the day, with Frank van den Broek setting our fastest time on the day. Most importantly, the team came through the opening test in a good way and now looks ahead to opportunities in the coming stages as the race heads into more demanding terrain.

Results

  • 48.28/H
  • 13.8KM
  • 225M
  • Time Trial
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1SEIXAS PaulDecathlon CMA CGM Team17:09.000-
2VAUQUELIN KévinINEOS Grenadiers0:23.000-
3GROßSCHARTNER FelixUAE Team Emirates - XRG0:27.000-
45VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL1:23.000-
72GAFFURI MattiaTeam Picnic PostNL1:44.000-
73KOERDT BjornTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
88KNOX JamesTeam Picnic PostNL1:57.000-
103DINHAM MatthewTeam Picnic PostNL2:17.000-
112FAURE PROST AlexyTeam Picnic PostNL2:23.000-
140MARTINEZ Juan GuillermoTeam Picnic PostNL2:57.000-