On  arrival I suggest you a intense city walk from the hotel to the “parte vieja” combined with the tasting of local miniature gastronomy  (local word for tapas) of different textures and flavours accompanied with the typical local white wine called “txakolí”.

Coastal line route squeezed between the ocean  and the green mountains. The track roams through secondary roads admiring stunning landscapes. The old fishing villages of Orio, Getaria and Zumaia will be crossed, besides the famous summer resort of Zarauz.

Leaving Zumaia village a 3th category summit (Itziar)will be reached   and  course follows downhill to end 5 km. later at the village of Deba. From here a secondary coastal line road will take the riders through the charming villages of Motrico ,Ondarroa and finally Lekeitio.

The longest stage of the course. Continuous ups and downs combining inland and sea side landscapes. After leaving Lekeitio and following the coastal road the fisrts villages to reach are Laga and Laia beaches, famous places for the local people as the main summer resorts. Also the Biosphere reserve of Urdanibia declared “Biosphere reserve and world heritage” site by the UNESCO will be visited.

Just before the village of Mundaka that of Gernika will be visited. The latter being famous because of the painting of Picasso. The road between the mountains and the estuary will take the riders to the charming and also capital of the surf village of Mundaka where to spend this night.

Rolling roads await the riders ahead. First village to meet after a striking landscape is the sailor village of Bermeo. Some km. farer the magic and mistic place of San Juan de Gazteluetxe pitched in an island and connected to the continent through its endless sinous stairs to the top hermitage. Bakio, the following village where to have the opportunity to taste the local White wine also called “Txakoli”, typical produce in the Basque country to finalise the stage in Plentzia, where a charming hotel overviewing the fishing port wellcomes the guests.

Last ride of the course takes the riders into the city of Bilbao, this the most populous of the Basque Country. Soon after the starting the road becomes a mixture  of road and biking lane  driving the bikers straight to the heart of the city along the river bank. The stage and also the course ends  at the imposing image of Frank Gehry’s  architectural creation,  Guggenheim Museum.