TRIBUTE TO BASQUE CYCLING AT THE OFFICIAL TEAM PRESENTATION OF THE 2023 TOUR DE FRANCE

29 June, 2023

Numerous Basque cyclists have preceded the 176 participating riders, with 22 of them acting as team guides.
Txomin Perurena, a legend of Basque cycling who recently passed away, had his special moment and received a heartfelt applause from the large attending audience.
The official celebration took place from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM on the Abandoibarra promenade, between the Euskalduna Palace and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. However, various activities were enjoyed from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

The Official Presentation of the Tour de France teams will go down in history as one of the great moments of the Grand Départ Pays Basque 2023, the start of the Tour de France from Euskadi with three spectacular stages. The event, broadcast live by EITB to nearly 200 countries, has served as a tribute to Basque cycling, its fans and cyclists.

Thus, before the Poga?ar, Vingegaard, Landa, Bilbao, Izagirre and company began to ride among the fans, numerous Basque txirrindularis received the applause and recognition of the nearly 30,000 fans who attended the event. Some of the most important of them led the bike parade of each participating team between the Euskalduna Palace, the starting point, and the esplanade of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, where the stage was located.

Joane Somarriba, Agurtzane Elorriaga, Miguel Mari Lasa, David Etxebarria, Abraham Olano, Marino Lejarreta, Iban Mayo, Roberto Laiseka, Julian Gorospe, Juan Manuel Garate, Fede Etxabe, Javier Murgialdai, Jose Nazabal, Igor Gonzalez Galdeano, Haimar Zubeldia, Amets Txurruka, Igor Anton, Iker Camaño, Unai Osa, Beñat Intxausti, Jon Unzaga and Iñaki Gaston have been what in cycling jargon is known as 'road captains' of the participating teams.

Within this warm tribute to Basque cycling, Txomin Perurena occupied a special place. Perurena, a legend of Basque cycling, passed away recently and there was a vibrant atmosphere to remember his name and career in a moment that was experienced with great emotion. The rain made an appearance, but the fans remained firm at all times.

Numerous activities

The official presentation, aimed at the general public, took place from 18:30 to 20:00, but from 17:00 onwards, different activities could be enjoyed, starting with a kalejira. And after the end of the official presentation, the pre-Tour atmosphere continued until 22:00h with DJ Oihan Vega. Throughout the afternoon, the good atmosphere and the music had an outstanding presence with performances by Hortzmuga, Demode Quartet, ETS & Süne, Oreka TX, Kukai and Neomak, among others.

The public took part in this free event throughout the circuit that the cyclists made from the Euskalduna Palace to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Thus, the public was able to follow the cyclists' route both during the circular circuit from the Euskalduna Palace to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and back, as well as on the esplanade of the Museum, where the stage was located. Three giant screens were also installed along the route so that the fans could experience the presentation of the teams live.