Day 1: Thursday 29 June Arrive Bilbao & Team Presentations
Arrive Bilbao, transfer to hotel, meet and greet in the afternoon at hotel, from the hotel we will depart on foot as a group for a walking tour of Bilbao's Old Town followed by watching the Team Presentations live.
For the walking tour you will meet with a top local guide who will take you on a two hour tour of the Old Quarter. The narrow streets of Bilbao's Old Town or Casco Viejo give off an age-old atmosphere. This historical corner, which keeps intact its buildings from the beginning of the centuary, rebuilt after the 1983 floods, is one of the most alive and dearly loved areas of a city which is full of contrasts.
The walking tour will depart from the hotel at 1400 (2pm), so if you want to take the tour, please aim to arrive at the hotel by midday / 1300 (1pm)
Hotel: Mercure Bilbao on Half Board basis
Meals: Dinner at Hotel
Daily Highlights:
- Transfer from Bilbao Airport to Hotel
- Watch live the Team Presentations in Bilbao
Today's Cycling Activity: Bike fitting at hotel
Day 2: Friday 30 June
Following breakfast we will depart the hotel by bike to ride sections of Stage 1. This will be a great chance to get familiar with your rental bike and roll out the legs.
In the afternoon we will enjoy a guided city bike tour and Guggenheim Museum visit.
Today we are lucky enough to enjoy the company of Phil Liggett as our special guest for dinner.
Hotel: Mercure Bilbao on half board basis
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner at Hotel
Daily Highlights:
- AM - Ride the final section of stage 1
- Group dinner with special guest speaker Phil Leggit
- PM - Half day tour (Bike tour & Guggenheim Museum) max 4 hours
Today's Ride: Ride some of Stage 1 race route including the final section. Approx 30- 40km
Day 3: Saturday 1 July - Stage 1 (Bilbao to Bilbao)
Today the 2023 Tour de France will commence with a stage starting and finishing in Bilbao. We’ll enjoy a leisurely morning before we regroup at the hotel and walk to the start area. Once the race has departed we will walk to the finish line area.
After the race, we will join our local guide for a unique walking Bilbao Pintxos tour. Your expert guide will take you to some of Bilbao's finest establishments and introduce you to the unique art of miniture haute cuisine.
Hotel: Mercure Bilbao on half board basis
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner at Hotel
Daily Highlights:
- Watch Stage 1 live including Start and Finish
- Bilbao Pintxos tour – 2 hours (includes 6 pintxos + 2 drinks in total, in 2 different bars + guide service)
No ride option today
Day 4: Sunday 2 July - Stage 2 (Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastian)
We depart Bilbao early by coach and head to Tolosa. The riding group will quickly prepare and head off by bike to ride the final section of today's stage 2 which will take us through Irun and the final climb of the day before we descend into San Sebastian.
Non-riders will have a chance to spend a short amount of time to explore the town of Tolosa before being transferred by our tour vehicle to San Sebastian
Once we arrive in San Sebastian we will watch the finish of the race live
Hotel: Mercure Igueldo San Sebastián on half board basis
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner at Hotel
Daily Highlights:
- Ride the final section of today's Stage 2
- Watch Stage 2 live, finish area in San Sebastian
Today's Ride: 80km | 1300m Climbing View today's ride in Strava
Day 5: Monday 3 July - Stage 3 (Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne)
We depart the hotel by bike to the ride today's stage in reverse direction. Along the way we will see local towns setting up for the race to come through later in the day. We will stop at coastal town of Zarautz to watch the race pass through. Once the riders and support vehicles have passed we hop back on the bikes and make our way back to San Sebastian via an inland route.
Once we arrive back at the hotel you’ll have time to refresh before our San Sebastian Pintxos tour. You will enjoy traditional products of Basque cuisine in the Old Quarter followed by a farewell group dinner.
Hotel: Mercure Igueldo San Sebastián on half board basis
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner at Hotel
Daily Highlights:
- Ride a section of today's Stage 3
- Watch Stage 3 live
- San Sebastian Pintxos tour – 2 hours (includes 6 pintxos + 2 drinks in total, in 2 different bars + guide service)
Todays Ride: Approx 70km | about 1100m Climbing View today's ride in Strava
Day 6: Tuesday 4 July - Departure Day
After breakfast we say goodbye, your transfer will take you to San Sebastian Airport
Meals: Breakfast