Overview of the Basque Country Grand Départ and Bilbao Stage
The ascent at Pike’s wall rises barely two kilometers, a grueling preview of what riders will push through. After warming up, thoughts of meat or fish fade away. Expectations are clear: the finish line looks reachable by around 3 PM. This sentiment echoed by Tadej Pogacar as he prepared to upgrade his ride. On a Friday around noon, spectators check the clock to confirm the Tour’s next-day appearance along the slopes, ensuring there is no misstep. The target remains Bilbao, marking the end of the first stage.
A review of history is warranted, given the crowd’s scale—loads of people, painted banners, and trailers parked in place. In a matter of minutes, cyclists will stream by, a familiar scene where a wall sits beside another wall. The Sondika airport has effectively become a gateway for Tour participants.
Less than 24 hours to start the Tour. It is crucial that fans follow the guidance below to enjoy every moment and maintain a smooth flow of activities.
#GrandDepartPaysBasque2023 #ongieTOURri
— Grand Départ Pays Basque 2023
A rider who endured the summit is asked if anyone else crossed his path. He wears a smile, grateful that teammates passed him while he climbed, a joy shared by fans. Names like Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert rise as potential contenders to win in Bilbao this Saturday. Others savor greetings with photos or applause, just as Julian Alaphilippe did, waving with a first yellow jersey on the return to the hotel.
The wall becomes a festival, a gateway where the prize is settled in the final moments. The Tour favors the rider who crosses first, and the ascent toward Begona Basilica embodies a kind of countdown, a kilometer with a five-percent grade that is not friendly to sprinters in the race’s opening phase.
A reminder to the 176 riders who will start the race this Saturday in Bilbao: the field gathers for the grand start. Rope descent from couriers captured the departure of the Tour en route to Bilbao for this Saturday’s ride.
—Tour de France™
The first stage also serves as a tribute to Basque cyclists who began the Tour journey back in 1910. Vincent White, known as El Cojo, arrived exhausted after a long ride from the Basque Country beginning that year. Back then, cyclists managed without modern devices; today, wattage and directors guiding riders via earpieces shape every bend, wind shifts, and potential danger at landings or moments of attack.
Seven Basque riders headline the challenge for this year’s event: Mikel Landa, Pello Bilbao, Omar Fraile, Gorka Izagirre, Ion Izagirre, Jonathan Castroviejo, and Alex Aranburu.
Cheer rises for everyone involved. #GrandDepartPaysBasque2023 #ongieTOURri #TDF2023
— Grand Départ Pays Basque 2023
The Tour winds through Vizcaya, tracing the routes once traveled by legends such as Antón Barrutia, Fede Etxabe, Patxi Gabica, Andrés Gandarias, Iñaki Gastón, Julián Gorospe, Dalmacio Langarica, and Jesús Loroño. It follows the paths where some of the sport’s most devoted training took place. Marino Lejarreta, famed as Junco de Berriz, is recalled as a symbol of Basque cycling spirit.
Today’s riders will carry the honor of wearing race numbers tied to the towns where they grew up, including Pello Bilbao, Jonathan Castroviejo, and other Basque riders who have left a lasting mark on the Tour. The long arc of victories has shifted in recent years, as modern racing emphasizes power, precision, and strategic pacing over sheer speed. In a rider-centric era led by figures like Mathieu van der Poel, victories come at a premium far beyond simple pace alone.