The 3 stages of the 2023 Tour through the Basque Country
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In 2023 the Tour de France will celebrate 120 years. The 110th edition of the Tour de France will start for the second time in the Basque Country, after its departure in 1992 from Donostia/San Sebastián. From 1 to 3 July 2023, the cycling race will cross the Basque Country in 3 stages and will start in Bilbao, chosen as the starting point for the Grand Depart and the first finish line.
First stage
A demanding 185 km circular stage through Bizkaia with more than 3,320 m of accumulated height gain.
The route will link the Cantabrian coast and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, crossing emblematic places such as Gernika-Lumo. The peloton will have to overcome the punctuating peaks of Laukiz, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Morga, Vivero and Pike Bidea. This first stage will be the most mountainous route ever presented on an opening day of the grand tour de France.
Second stage
The second stage will start in Vitoria-Gasteiz and finish in Donostia/San Sebastián. The second 210 km route, no less demanding than the first, will take the peloton over the Udana, Aztiria and Alkiza passes to tackle Jaizkibel, which will be tackled on the opposite side to the usual route of the famous Clásica de San Sebastián. 10 km at an average gradient of 4.6%.
Around 25 kilometres will pass through Goierri, a region made up of 18 villages, most of them with less than 1,000 inhabitants, with a privileged natural charm, between the Aralar Natural Park and the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park.
Third stage
The third and final stage will start in Amorebieta-Etxano and finish in Baiona. The first stages of the route will take place in Durangaldea. The peloton will pass through the Trabakua, Milloi, Itziar and Benta peaks. During the route, the cyclists will cover nearly 80 km of coastline passing through the picturesque coastal towns of Lekeitio, Ondarroa, Zarautz, Donostia/San Sebastián, Hondarribia and Irun, among others.
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