The Azparren brothers, although they are not from the same team, have been competing in several races in 2024. They ran the Alula Tour, O Gran Camiño and the Miguel Indurain Grand Prix. Also since Monday they have been participating in Itzulia. Xabier Mikel and Enekoitz, born in San Sebastián, chose the second stage of the Basque race to escape together.
The oldest, Xabier Mikel, 25 years old, wears black, because this year he has signed for the Swiss Q36.5. The little one, Enekoitz, 21, wears orange, the colors of Euskaltel, where his brother started. As soon as they left Irún they attacked in the company of Bol (Burgos), Vuillermoz (Total Energies) and Iván Cobo (Kern Pharma).
They were caught 13 km from Kanbo, just before the bonus sprint, after riding in the lead and as a family through the French Basque Country for more than 130 km. When they were neutralized, Xabier Mikel put his hand on his brother’s back as a sign of approval, a loving gesture as the peloton headed at full speed to the end of the stage.
Juan Ayuso (UAE) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal) got into that Ezpeleta sprint, taking two and one second, respectively, from Roglic, who remains the overall leader, now ten seconds ahead of the Belgian.
But then the favorites gave up the fight for the stage victory. The rain and a couple of falls on the approach to Kanbo put fear into their bodies. The arrival, a little weak, was for the Frenchman Paul Lapeira (Decathlon).
Among the victims, Jay Vine, who was second overall, Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos) and Gaudu (Groupama), who arrived injured and lost 23s. Another of the important men like Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl) was affected by a fall and entered more than three minutes behind, thus saying goodbye to winning the Itzulia, a race with many of the men who aspire to win the Tour but which can be very familiar.
