The Durango-Durango, once known in the calendar as the Emakumeen Saria, remains one of the longest-running one-day races in the women’s peloton. First held at UCI level in 2001, the race has consistently attracted top-tier climbers and features among the most selective one-day events on the calendar. Previous winners include legends like Joane Somarriba, Mirjam Melchers, Susanne Ljungskog, Marianne Vos, Emma Pooley, Emma Johansson, Annemiek van Vleuten, Anna van der Breggen and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio.
It’s a race that has always suited the climbers, and in recent years, organisers have leaned even more into that identity by gradually extending the distance and adding more elevation. It originally served as a lead-in to the now-defunct Emakumeen Bira. Since the creation of the Itzulia Women, however, Durango-Durango has found a home just after the Basque stage race – a scheduling trend that continues in 2025 following last weekend’s racing.
The 2025 route remains unchanged from last year. The race begins with four laps of a circuit featuring the short but punchy Miota climb before switching to a final loop that includes two longer efforts. First comes the Areitio Gana (1.1 km at 6%) followed by two ascents of the Goiuria Gana (5.5 km at 5%). From the summit of the final climb, it’s a fast run-in to the finish, usually decisive in shaping the final podium.
Last year’s race was played out in torrential conditions, with Cédrine Kerbaol mastering the descent off the final climb to solo to victory. She had escaped a strong break group that included Lucinda Brand, Evita Muzic, Thalita de Jong, Mareille Meijering and Noemi Rüegg. The French rider used her descending skills to distance the group and hold off the chase into Durango.
The 2023 edition also resisted a bunch finish, with Moolman-Pasio outsprinting her breakaway companions Ane Santesteban and Claire Steels. That trend of selective racing is unlikely to change in 2025. With a punchy course and aggressive racing fresh from Itzulia, it’s once again set to be a battle for punchy climbers.
Which teams are racing at Durango Durango 2025?
- Academia Abadiño
- ARKEA-B&B HOTELS
- BePink-Imatra-Bongioanni
- Cantabria Rio Miera
- CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation
- Ceratizit Pro Cycling Team
- Cofidis Women Team
- EF Education-Oatly
- Eneicat-CM Team
- FDJ-SUEZ
- Grupo Eulen-NUUK
- Human Powered Health
- Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi
- Lidl-Trek
- Massi Baix Ter Women’s Team
- Movistar Team
- Occitanie
- Roland
- Team Farto-Kiroot
- UAE Team ADQ
- UPV
- Winspace Orange Seal
- Zatika
What does the Durango Durango race profile look like?
Where can I watch the Durango Durango race?
The 2025 edition of Durango Durango can be watched on the SportPublic TV Youtube channel from 3:10pm BST on 20th May 2025.
Who are the main riders to watch?
- Elisa Longo Borghini
- Jelena Eric
- Karolina Perekitko
- Henrietta Christie
- Evita Muzic
- Ruth Edwards
- Greta Marturano
- Dilyxine Miermont
- Kathrin Schweinberger
- Mareille Meijering
- Sarah Van Dam
- Julie Bego
- Ane Santesteban
- Nadia Gontova
- Barbara Malcotti
- Thalita de Jong
- Hannah Ludwig
- Kim Cadzow
- Usoa Ostolaza
- Silvia Persico
- Celia Gery
- Nadia Quagliotto
