The managing director of Euskadi Cycling Organizations (OCETA), which organizes the main cycling races in the Basque Country, reassured this Thursday. they had to “almost” arrange a Basque Country Tour (also known as Itzulia) for women and doing this fashion issue“.

“We almost had to organize. It’s a fashion thing. Finally… Equality, maybe… Free… “Everybody says something needs to be done for women’s sport, and it has touched cycling as well,” Julián Eraso said in an interview with Radio Marca Bilbao, compiled by El Periódico de España.

“They told us we need to organize, and we’ve got some know-how to organize, we’re not worried. Hopefully this consolidates and starts working and” in a few years we won’t have to worry about why we’re doing this“, added the OCETA general manager.

three stages

Basque Country celebrates Women’s Tour starting with the first edition this Fridayconsists of three phases that will cover the three Basque regions: the first in Álava (Vitoria-Labastida), the second in Bizkaia (Mallabia-Mallabia) and the third and final in Gipuzkoa (San Sebastián-San Sebastián).

Integrated into the World Tour circuit, the most important in women’s cycling, the big three on the men’s calendar (Tour, Vuelta and Giro) follow in the footsteps of other classic stage races, such as the Vuelta, which are enhanced versions for women. a Tour of Burgos or Romandy.

OCETA in 2019 and 2021, Female version of Clásica de San SebastiánThe other great test of the Basque calendar. It was also scheduled to be held in 2020, but was canceled due to the pandemic.

For this year, it has been decided to integrate the San Sebastian race into a three-day Itzulia where the vast majority of teams from the first division of world cycling, including Movistar, will be ready. Basque teams Laboral Kutxa, Bizkaia Durango and Sopela will also lead it.