He is one of those experienced cyclists whose name is known by everyone in the peloton. Ion Izagirre, 32 years old, with 12 years as a professional rider, has built up a solid record of success over the seasons, having ridden for Euskatel-Euskadi, Movistar, Bahrain Merida and Astana. He is one of those rare riders who have already won the three major Tours.
Many prestigious victories
Ion notably won the 20th stage of the Tour de France in 2016 between Megève and Morzine. "This is the biggest victory of my career," he admits. He also won the Giro, between Limone sul Garda and Faizes (16th stage, in 2012).
At the Tour of Spain, he won the team time trial (in 2019) and a mountain stage between Biescas and Aramon Formigal (in 2020). He has also distinguished himself in the Spanish championships, winning the road race (2014) and the time-trial twice (in 2016 and 2021).
A new leader and a valuable reinforcement
Ion Izagirre does not hide his enthusiasm about joining the Cofidis team. Close to Bingen Fernandez, team manager, and the Herrada brothers, the Basque hopes to help the team grow. He will be an important reinforcement in the Big Tours, alongside Guillaume Martin and Jesus Herrada. This will give the team a leader in complementary areas, especially in the one-week stage races.
The arrival of Ion is another illustration of the ambitious character of Cofidis. The team is based on two strong axes: supporting young riders to help them shine and trusting experienced riders, capable of making a difference in races and winning them.
