By 2023, Basque Country entirely dedicated to the Tour de France. With three stages going through northern Spain, it will be a big celebration of cycling in general and cycling in the Basque Country in particular. Already, you could see the preview of stage one see on this medium. Today we also present part two, again featuring the extraordinary insights of Haimar Zubeldia. You can also read the report on how we experienced the stage, which we rode (funnily enough) in the opposite direction first. Not insignificant, but definitely fun! The Grand Depart Basque Country does not get boring.
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Text: Sander Kolsloot - photos: Stijn Kanters
On to Etxeondo
When we wake up at the Arima hotel in the morning, the weather is a typical mix of Basque conditions. A little cloud, some sun here and there, a little wind. Unpredictable, although everything indicates that at least it won't rain. That's an advantage. On the programme today: the route of stage two with a visit to Etxeondo's 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 towards Irura. The road undulates, just like in stage 1. I can see the green hills, where in my mind I see the Basque climbers shooting up. Behind the hills towards Zarautz lies the Haimar's favourite training climb. This is where champions are made great.
The climb close to home
Before diving into the factory, a kind of toy shop for cycling enthusiasts, we go up on the Alkiza. The climb bears the name of the hamlet we climb to. With just under five kilometres of beautiful Basque tarmac in a hilly setting, this is a nice warm-up for this stage's final climb, the Jaizkibel. It has a small steep section, 500 metres or so, that gets above 10 per cent average, but otherwise it is mostly a walking climb. The summit, marked by a little church, a village square and, above all, tranquillity, is a picturesque sight. The descent invites you to accelerate and swings nicely towards the main provincial road.
The house nearby
Once inside Etxeondo, the reception is warmly again. Since my travelling companions have not been here before and since we are also shooting some footage with Haimar, we get a tour of the factory, with Patxi Rodrigo telling us the ins and outs. The story of the haystack, the 'etxxe ondo' (the house nearby) now captures our imagination again. The hard work and 'saving for later' symbolised by the haystack is reflected in the attention and quality of the clothes. What also stands out: the loyalty of the employees, as many a lady or gentleman has been working for this manufacturer for years. Values like 'family', 'attention' and 'do what you say, say what you do' are omnipresent. When we leave almost two hours later, we have plenty of stories, but also a lot of kilometres ahead of us.
Oñati and surroundings
We jump in the car towards Oñati. The stage itself starts much earlier in Vitoria-Gasteiz, then through the plains and hills past the park with the Aixkori, the highest peak in the Basque country. The main sights in the park, Aizkorri-Aratz you will find mostly IN the hill, where you will find caves and ancient Roman paths. This will again provide many a pretty picture in the Tour. Near Oñati, on the northern side of the park, is a beautiful climb with picturesque hairpin bends. Lovely for cycling on, as it is not too steep, plus another great location to shoot drone footage. The Alto de Udana will make few riders sweat, but it is the combination of all the climbs in this stage that will ensure you will arrive wrecked.
On towards San Sebastian
We continue along the route, basically back to 'our start' in San Sebastian. Along the way, you are presented with several more, sometimes unmarked, climbs. If you look into the country, you see the previously mentioned hay bales, the Etxe Ondo also passing by. Steven and Stijn are having a blast. I watch it from a distance and figure in the images.
Jaizkibel
If you mention Basque Country and cycling in the same sentence, you automatically come to the Klasikoa Donostia out. The Clasica San Sebastian, as many know it, is a delightful race, just after the Tour de France, that takes in the highlights of the Basque country. The focal point is always the ascent of the Jaizkibel. In this stage too, the climb to the Jaizkibel is the focal point. 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 late afternoon. We see older and younger riders still climbing the pedals for a while. Haimar points out: 'many riders do this as an evening ride, one more evne up the Jaizkibel and then home.' As mentioned earlier, this is where champions are moulded.
Pain everywhere
The Jaizkibel may not be the longest climb, but it is the most vicious. It consists of two parts, with a first section that rides up fairly easily. After three kilometres, at the 'Guadelupe', it goes up steeply. The last four and a half kilometres are the most painful, containing an outlier to 11 per cent and a vicious kilometre with nine per cent average. In the race, this will be the decision. For riders like you and me, it's painful sweating. Haimar makes fun of me by throwing it on the outside leaf and tearing past with his mouth closed. The kid in the Basque is still there. It also shows again what the difference is between the top of the world and the ordinary amateurs. At the top, it is actually enjoyable. With a sweeping view of the Bay of Biscay and a view that stretches all the way to France, this is a great place for me to recover.
Grand Depart Basque Country - routes 2023
Below are the three routes of the Grand Depart 2023. For this trip, we sometimes drove the routes a bit differently than the peloton will. Nonetheless, we rode large sections and were able to get a good picture of the stages. It will be enjoyable to watch, but also if you watch your own Grand Depart Basque Country go cycling, then you won't be disappointed if you choose these routes.
