Born and raised in Usurbil, Gipuzkoa, Zubeldia currently resides in the neighboring village of Zarautz.[4] His younger brother Joseba Zubeldia also competed as a professional racing cyclist.[5]
In 2014, Zubeldia became the Spanish rider with the most starts in the Tour de France, a record previously held by two long-term-servants of what is now the Movistar Team, 5-time-winner Miguel Induráin, and José Vicente García. In his career, Zubeldia started 29 Grand Tours – 16 at the Tour de France, 12 at the Vuelta a España and 1 at the Giro d'Italia – finishing 26.