In 2023 it will be Basque Country entirely dedicated to the Tour de France. With three stages that go through the north of Spain, it will be a great celebration of cycling in general and cycling in the Basque Country in particular. Previously, you could only see the preview of stage one See it on this medium. Today we also present part two, with again the extraordinary insights of Haimar Zubeldia. You will also read the report on how we experienced the stage, which we (funny enough) first drove in the opposite direction. Not unimportant, but certainly fun! The Grand Depart of Basque Country is not going to be boring.
The text continues after the video.
Text: Sander Kolsloot – photos: Stijn Kanters
On to Etxeondo
When we wake up in the Arima hotel this morning, it’s again a typical mix of Basque conditions. A little cloud, here and there some sunshine, a bit of wind. Unpredictable, although everything points to at least no rain. That’s an advantage. Today on the program: the route of stage two with a visit to the Etxeondo factory in the meantime. The local manufacturer of high-quality clothing opens its doors to us. The route leads us over the hill that surrounds San Sebastian in the direction of Irura. The road is undulating, just like in stage 1. I see the green hills, where in my mind I see the Basque climbers shooting up. Behind the hills towards Zarautz lies Haimar's favorite training climb. Champions are made here.
The climb is close to home
Before we enter the factory, a kind of toy store for bike enthusiasts, we will climb up the Alkiza for a while. The climb is named after the hamlet to which we are climbing. With a little over five kilometers of beautiful Basque asphalt in a hilly landscape, this is a nice warm-up for the final climb of this stage, the Jaizkibel. It has a small steep section, about 500 meters, that averages 10 percent, but for the rest it is mostly a walk up the hill. The top, marked by a church, a village square and especially tranquility, is a picturesque sight. The descent invites you to give it your all and winds nicely towards the main provincial road.
The house nearby
Once inside Etxeondo, the welcome is Again, many thanks. Because my fellow travelers have never been here before and because we are also shooting some footage with Haimar, we get a tour of the factory, during which Patxi Rodrigo tells us all about the ins and outs. The story of the haystack, the ‘etxe ondo’ (the house nearby) now speaks to the imagination again. The hard work and the ‘saving for later’ that the haystack symbolizes is reflected in the attention and quality of the clothing. What also stands out: the loyalty of the employees, because many ladies and gentlemen have been working for this manufacturer for years. Values such as ‘family’, ‘attention’, and ‘doing what you say, saying what you do’ are omnipresent. As we leave the factory almost two hours later, we have enough stories to tell, but also a whole lot of kilometers ahead of us.
Oñati and the surrounding area
We jump into the car and head towards Oñati. The actual stage starts much earlier in Vitoria-Gasteiz, after which it passes through the plains and hills along the park with the Aixkori, the highest peak in the Basque Country. The most important sights in the park, Aizkorri-Aratz You’ll find it mostly IN the hills, where you’ll find caves and ancient Roman paths. This will again provide many beautiful photos during the Tour. Near Oñati, on the north side of the park, there is a beautiful climb with picturesque hairpin bends. It’s great to cycle on, because it’s not too steep, plus it’s a beautiful location for shooting drone footage. The Alto de Udana won’t make many riders sweat, but it’s the combination of all the climbs in this stage that ensures you’ll be exhausted at the end.
Towards San Sebastian
We continue along the route, actually back to our ‘starting point’ in San Sebastian. Along the way, we encounter several, sometimes unmarked, climbs. Looking at the landscape, you can see the aforementioned hay bales; the Etxe Ondo also passes by. Steven and Stijn are having a great time. I watch from a distance and appear in the images.
Jaizkibel
Anyone who mentions the Basque Country and cycling in the same sentence automatically comes to the Klasikoa Donostia Out. The Clasica San Sebastian, as many know it, is a wonderful race, just after the Tour de France, that brings together the highlights of the Basque country. The highlight is always the climb up the Jaizkibel. In this stage too, the climb up the Jaizkibel is the steepest. Unlike the Clasica, the tour riders ride the climb in the opposite direction. When we are at the bottom of the climb, it is already the end of the afternoon. We see older and younger riders still climbing the pedals. Haimar says: ‘Many riders do this as an evening ride, still able to climb the Jaizkibel and then go home.’ As mentioned earlier, this is where champions are made.
Pain everywhere
The Jaizkibel may not be the longest climb, but it is the most treacherous. It consists of two parts, with the first part going up quite easily. After three kilometers, at the ‘Guadelupe’, the climb gets steeper. The last four and a half kilometers are the most painful, with a peak of 11 percent and a treacherous kilometer with an average of nine percent. In the race, this will be the deciding factor. For riders like you and me, it’s painful to sweat. Haimar takes me aside for a moment by throwing him onto the outside sheet and tearing past with my mouth closed. The child in the Basque is still present. It also shows once again what the difference is between the top of the world and ordinary amateurs. On top of that, it’s actually breathtaking to watch. With a wide view over the Bay of Biscay and an image that extends all the way to France, I can really take a moment to relax here.
Grand Depart of the Basque Country – routes 2023
Below you will find the three routes of the Grand Depart 2023. For this trip we sometimes rode the routes a little differently than the peloton will. Nevertheless, we did cover large parts and were able to get a good picture of the stages. It will be a pleasure to watch, but also when you are following your own Grand Depart Basque Country If you choose to cycle, you won’t be disappointed with these routes.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.