IÑIGO URKULLU, PRESIDENT OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY, AND CHRISTIAN PRUDHOMME, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE, KICK OFF A HISTORIC EDITION IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY
Iñigo Urkullu, President of the Basque Government, and Christian Prudhomme, General Director of the Tour de France, featured in the ribbon cutting ceremony that preceded the first stage of the Tour de France 2023 in the Basque Country.
The 1st stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France is starting and finishing in Bilbao. The 182-kilometre route throughout Bizkaia is circular and winding. If we add the 3,300 metres of accumulated altitude gain to the nerves, excitement and effort of the opening stage, the first day will offer us a vibrant show.
On a route that links the Cantabrian coast and the Urdaibai biosphere and crosses emblematic places, such as Gernika-Lumo, the pack will have to overcome the peaks of Laukiz, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Morga, Vivero and Pike Bidea, the latter a ‘wall’ of 2 kilometres at an average of 9% with stretches of 15% gradient, some 10 kilometres from the finish line, all of which form part of the points classification. Who will get to wear the first yellow jersey of the 2023 Tour?
