French Dominance Continues at Tour du Pays basque as Axel Laurance Claims Stage 3
The French contingent is currently owning the roads of the Basque Country. Following a pair of opening victories by Paul Seixas, Axel Laurance kept the momentum swinging in France’s favor on Wednesday, securing a hard-fought victory in the third stage of the Tour du Pays basque.
Laurance, the 24-year-old Ineos Grenadiers rider from Brittany, outmaneuvered a select group of attackers to take the win in Basauri. While the stage victory belonged to Laurance, the overall narrative remains centered on Paul Seixas, who continues to wear the yellow jersey with a commanding lead in the general classification.
Tactical Precision in Basauri
The third stage, a 152.8-kilometer loop starting and ending in Basauri, was defined by an early 16-rider breakaway. This group included several notable names, such as Ilan Van Wilder of Soudal Quick Step, Lorenzo Fortunato of XDS-Astana and Groupama-FDJ teammates Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet and Clément Braz Afonso.
As the race neared its conclusion, the group splintered. Laurance found himself in a high-stakes duel with Igor Arrieta of UAE Emirates-XRG. The two managed to distance the rest of the lead group, setting up a head-to-head sprint for the line.
Despite battling a cramp in the final moments, Laurance demonstrated what he described as the “instinct of a killer,” timing his acceleration perfectly to beat the local favorite Arrieta in the sprint. For Laurance, this victory marks his fourth win of the season, adding to a successful spring that included a stage win at the Tour de la Provence and two victories at the Semaine internationale Coppi e Bartali in late March.
Paul Seixas Maintains Control
While the breakaway fought for stage glory, the favorites’ group remained tactical. Paul Seixas, riding for Decathlon-CMA CGM, played a measured game throughout the day. The young Frenchman, who dominated the first two stages on Monday and Tuesday, comfortably won the sprint among the general classification contenders to secure his lead.
Seixas has established a significant buffer between himself and the chasing pack. The current general classification standings reflect a dominant start to the tour:
| Rank | Rider | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Seixas | Leader |
| 2 | Primoz Roglic | +1’59” |
| 3 | Florian Lipowitz | +2’08” |
| 4 | Mattias Skjelmose | +2’14” |
| 5 | Ben Tulett | +2’27” |
For readers unfamiliar with the “Yellow Jersey” (Maillot Jaune), it is the iconic symbol of the race leader, awarded to the rider with the lowest cumulative time across all completed stages.
Heartbreak for Isaac Del Toro
The day was not without its casualties. UAE Emirates-XRG suffered a major blow when their leader, Isaac Del Toro, was forced to abandon the race. Del Toro crashed approximately 70 kilometers into the stage, suffering significant abrasions to his right side. The crash ended his hopes for the overall title and left his teammate, Igor Arrieta, as the primary representative for the Emirati squad in the final duel of the day.
The French “Three-Peat”
The Tour du Pays basque has effectively become a showcase for French talent over the first three days. With Seixas taking the first two stages and Laurance claiming the third, the French riders have displayed a combination of raw power and tactical intelligence. For Ineos Grenadiers, Laurance’s win reinforces his status as a versatile threat in one-day finishes and short stage races.
Looking ahead, the race continues through April 11. With a nearly two-minute lead, Paul Seixas is the clear favorite, but the steep terrain of the Basque region often provides opportunities for late-race collapses or daring long-range attacks from riders like Primoz Roglic.
Stay tuned for updates as the Tour du Pays basque enters its final phases. Do you think Seixas can hold the yellow jersey until the finish, or will the veterans close the gap? Let us know in the comments.
