Cycling in the Basque Country is absolutely wonderful! Shifting and verdant landscape with few cars. We start down on the Atlantic coast in Biarritz and aim for Pamplona and our first destination in Spain. When we roll back into Biarritz six days later. Have we experienced days with everything from forest roads to open landscapes with wonderful views. Cycling is incredibly popular in the Basque Country. And it is not difficult to understand why in many places here it is considered the national sport before even football.
Schedule
Day one
After a start at Biarritz, now well-known to us, we head east. Already after 3 miles we pass the border to Spain. The environment is lush and often passes through forest areas. After 8 miles we reach the highest point of the day (just under 1,000m) and look out over the plains and our destination Pamplona. We will get there about a week before San Fermin, but the atmosphere in town will be magical and expectant nonetheless.
Day two
Now we steer south. Our destination and our vineyard Eguren Ugarte looms in the distance. This is initially the section with the least elevation gain on our journey. But just before our goal, we climb up to the small town of Lapoblacon at almost 1,000 m. Before rolling down to our accommodation. We have now reached the border where all the vineyards of Rioja take over.
Day Three
We have now reached the southernmost destination on our journey. Before we arrive at the big classic and most exciting city of the trip, Bilbao, we pass Vitoria - Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country. Only a short coffee there, however, the schedule is made so that you have time to visit the Guggenheim Museum before dinner.
Day Four
Denna morgon följer vi kusten och havet på vår väg. Vi väljer i stort sett samma väg som Tour de France gör på sin Grand Depart 2023. Alltså ännu en gång klassiska vägar och med ett vidsträckt hav på vår vänstra sida och berg och sluttningar på vår högra. Och håll utkik om du tycker om Game of Thrones, vårt mål San Juan Gaztelugatxe var en av de mest klassiska inspelningsplatserna!
Day Five
Mera underbart hav denna dag. Men också två fascinerande delmål. Först Mundaca, underbar kuststad / by, älskad av alla och kanske mest av världens alla surfare som vallfärdar hit. Efter det Guernica, kanske mest känd för målningen som Picasso gjorde som minnesmärke efter spanska inbördeskriget. Varje stad på vår resa är känd för sin goda mat. Men kanske är dagens mål no1 där, San Sebastian!
Day Six
Grand finale, Biarritz and its fine beach Grand Plage looms. Either we take the nearest (approx. 5 miles) road along the coast and maybe a long coffee at the beach in St.Jean de Luz. Or we climb some of the mountains (approx. 1000 m high) on the right side and get a nice last view of our previous route in the east, before joining the others at our final destination. In any case, very delicious to be discussed and digested during the afternoon and evening over a glass of bubbly.