Itzulia Basque Country Stage 3 & Scheldeprijs

The Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast delivers a detailed recap of Stage 3 of the Itzulia Basque Country, a 153km loop from Basauri to Basauri featuring challenging climbs and a chaotic breakaway. The episode opens with a dramatic crash involving Lander Landau, caused by a medical car during a descent, sparking controversy and concern over safety protocols. The breakaway, initially strong with 14 riders including Axel Laurans, Ilan Van Wilder, Lorenzo Fortunato, and Clément Bras-Affonso, proved uncontrollable due to the depth of talent and lack of coordination among chasing teams. Laurans executed a masterclass in racecraft, staying calm under pressure, managing his energy, and ultimately outsmarting the aggressive Arrieta in a tactical sprint finish. The episode also covers the Scheldeprijs, where Tim Merlier made a triumphant return to form, winning in dominant fashion after a chaotic final kilometer marked by crashes and tactical jockeying. The hosts praise Merlier’s renewed confidence and positioning skills, highlighting his return as a major story in the spring classics. Looking ahead, the preview for Stage 4 sets up a high-stakes GC day with repeated climbs and a brutal final ascent, with speculation around breakaway opportunities and potential stage wins for riders like Ben Healy and Tess Vatsion.