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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Ion Izagirre broke his left wrist in a training crash, forcing him to abandon the final Italian road races he had planned for his retirement season. The 37-year-old had already decided that 2026 would be his last year as a professional; the fall changed the ending, not the decision to retire.
How Ion Izagirre broke his wrist
In an interview published by Cyclingnews on 3 October 2026, Izagirre said he was training for his last races of the season when his rear wheel slipped on a wet downhill. He tried to stop himself as he fell and broke his left wrist. He said he did not feel pain at the time and that hospital staff put a splint on it.
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Izagirre recalled that the decisive moment was realizing he could not hold the handlebar with his left hand: “When I couldn’t hold the handlebar with my left hand, I realised it was Adios to my season and my career. The world caves in on you.”
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Which races did the crash rule out?
The injury ended his planned run of Italian road races: Coppa Agostini on 4 October, Tre Valli Varesine on 6 October and Il Lombardia on 11 October 2026. Cyclingnews reported that Izagirre had hoped to make Lombardia his final professional road race. He had finished fourth there in 2024, one of two top-ten results in the race reported by the outlet.
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He had wanted a different farewell: “I didn’t want to finish my career with a plaster on my wrist. I wanted to finish it enjoying my racing in the Italian races.”
Why the timing felt especially hard
Izagirre told Cyclingnews he had been in good condition and wanted to finish his career by racing well. The outlet’s account of his 2026 season included a win at Memorial Marco Pantani shortly before the crash and another major one-day victory at GP Miguel Indurain, as well as fourth overall at Itzulia Basque Country, seventh at Flèche Wallonne and sixth at Eschborn-Frankfurt.
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He described his immediate mood as: “I’m a little bit in mourning right now.” He said messages from others reminded him that his final season had been strong, but he did not yet feel ready to assess it objectively.
Retirement was planned before the injury
Izagirre had announced that he would retire at the end of 2026 before the crash. In a June interview with AS, he said his previous season had been difficult and that choosing his own final season helped him avoid feeling pushed out of the sport. He also said he wanted more time with his family after retirement.
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- IN-MOLD CONSTRUCTION — In-Mold Construction fuses a tough polycarbonate outer shell with the helmet's impact-absorbing foam liner. The fusion process allows for better ventilation systems, making in-mold helmets lighter and cooler than traditional helmets.
- ROC LOC SPORT FIT SYSTEM — The Roc Loc Sport fit system offers easy one-handed operation with a 7cm adjustment range. Its confident clicking feel and sound lets riders know that the helmet is adjusting to a comfortable fit. With comfort similar to Roc Loc 5 and ponytail compatibility, the new Roc Loc Sport fit system brings premium function to sport level helmets.
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The crash therefore brought his road-racing career to an abrupt close sooner than he had intended, but it did not prompt the retirement decision. He told Cyclingnews he did not plan to continue competing professionally in gravel or cyclocross: “When I hang up my wheels, that’s me done for good.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Could Ormaiztegi cyclocross be his final appearance?
After the crash, Izagirre said he hoped he might recover in time to ride a cyclocross event in his home town of Ormaiztegi on 25 October. He described it as a possibility, not a confirmed start. Local outlet Deia also reported that he did not know whether he would be able to take part.
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Any such appearance would not mean he intended to extend his competitive career. Izagirre said his immediate plan was to spend time with family and see what ideas came later. The available reporting does not establish whether he ultimately started the Ormaiztegi event or how long recovery took.
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