L'Étape Bilbao By Tour de France' celebrates a unique and unrepeatable edition with success
The capital of Bizkaia turns out in force for the cycling festival, and passes with flying colours in the run-up to the opening stage of the Tour de France
Lovers of two wheels and Bilbao came together in one of the most important sporting events of recent months in the capital of Bizkaia, as a prelude to the opening stage of the Tour de France 2023. This unique and unrepeatable edition has fulfilled with flying colours the double objective with which it was born: to attract and involve the amateur public in this event and to spread the word about the start of the Tour de France among the citizens.
Smiling faces of enjoyment was the constant tone that could be seen on the esplanade of San Mamés, minutes before the start, as the 1,950 cyclists arrived. A yellow peloton eager to become the main protagonists, a few days before the professional peloton passes through our roads.
Before the start of the march, the ribbon cutting took place, which was attended by the Mayor of Bilbao City Council, Juan Mari Aburto, together with councillors Xabier Ochandiano, Amaia Arregi and Álvaro Pérez.
For Juan Mari Aburto, the organisation of this cycling event has meant the beginning of the excitement of the Tour in the city, an event that has been in the works for a long time and which is going to be a real party in the city. In the opinion of Bilbao's top councillor, the experience of these almost 2,000 fans will also serve as a pilot test for the Grand Départ Pays Basque and the activation of the main milestones of the Tour de France, the most important international sporting event that will put Bilbao and the Basque Country on the world map.
At 8:00 am, 1,950 cyclists started one of the 3 challenges offered by the race: OFFICIAL 185km, MEDIUM 157km or LITE 124km. The OFFICIAL distance, whose route emulates the 1st stage of the Tour de France, covered a large part of the territory of Bizkaia, passing through towns such as Leioa, Getxo Sopelana, Urduliz, Bakio, Bermeo, Mundaka, Forua, Gernika, Ereño, Múgica, Lezama, Zamudio, Derio, Sondika, with the finish at Etxebarria Park.
During the route, familiar faces could be seen such as Ziortza Villa; European Ultradistance Cycling Champion, Virginia Berasategi; European and World Long Distance Triathlon Champion, Samuel Sánchez; Silver in the 2010 Tour de France and Gold Medalist in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Joseba Ruiz Martínez, former professional cyclist in the ranks of the Kas and Lotus Festina teams from 1986 to 1991 (three seasons in each).
At 13:00h the first participants began to arrive, receiving their medals and posing on the yellow Grand Départ Pays stage truck, like true professionals. A recognition of their successful participation in L'Étape Bilbao By Tour de France.
Now it only remains to wait for the culmination of the dream, of all the txirrindulari fans, to host and enjoy the Tour de France to the full in our cities, towns and roads.
