Euskaraz irakurri: Tourraren aurretik egingo diren ekitaldiak aurkeztu eta ikurrinarekin kalera ateratzera animatu dituzte zaleak
He Tour de France 2023on its 120th anniversary, will leave Bilbao on July 1 and during three stages the Basque roads will be the main protagonists. So, to celebrate that event, the Grand Depart Pays Basque 2023 presented this morning at the Azkuna Zentroa in Bilbao the schedule of milestones and activities that will be held in the coming months, until the first stage of the Tour de France begins on July 1. Likewise, they have launched an appeal for fans to wear ikurriñas on roads and balconies, and exciclistas have expressed themselves in this regard Roberto Laiseka, Marino Lejarretaand Eneritz Iturriaga.
“The effort is maximum, there are many moments in which you go to the limit, but to see and feel the fans in the gutter, cheering, how the hallway opens up ahead… It’s incredible how it feels“has reported laiseka. “The Basque fans and the ikurriña always end up showing up. After waving it so many times in the Pyrenees showing the pride of an entire country, now we have to show it off at home. So, this year, and more than ever, we have to bring the ikurriña to our streets“, pointed out the ex-cyclist from Euskaltel Euskadi.
For his part, Marino Lejarreta has stated that “It is hardly necessary to encourage people to hit the road, I am sure that the fans will respond, they always have, they are very faithful. Anywhere we have gone as cyclists, any of us, whenever there was a Basque there was an ikurriña“. In this way, in addition to going out on the road with the ikurriña, the Junco de Berriz has encouraged showing it in “any place where we can show what we are, the best cycling fans in the world“.
For his part, Eneritz Iturriaga has revealed that the ikurriña is “symbol of a collective feeling, the only one that represents and unites all the Basques“.
SCHEDULE 2023
Prior to the statements of the former cyclists, Bingen ZupiriaMinister of Culture and Language Policy and Spokesperson for the Basque Government, has detailed the activities that will be held until the best cyclists in the world peloton pedal among us.
As it is, the March 22 it will be installed and the next day it will be launched the 100 day countdown with the classic Tissot watch in Bilbao, and from that moment the starting gun will be given to the rest of the events. Among the programmed activities, several emblematic buildings in Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz and San Sebastián will be illuminated in yellow. There will be audiovisual shows in the Álava capital and San Sebastián will host the premiere of a giant yellow jersey.
“The arrival of the Tour de France is a great opportunity to show the great passion that the Basque Country feels for cycling,” said Zupiria.
One of the ways to show that enthusiasm will be by pedaling on our roads. The Grand Départ Pays Basque, in addition to organizing a replica of the first stage of the Tour with L’Étape Bilbao By Tour De France (June 11), also collaborates in the development of two special editions of two traditional cycling events in the Basque calendar, the Donostia-Baiona-Donostia (May 13) and the Vitoria Cycling Tournament (June 24).
As explained by the Government spokesman, “the more familiar public will also have endless activities. The BiziTour Jaiak, organized by the Euskadi Cyclist Foundation, will stand out.” San Sebastian (May 7), Vitoria-Gasteiz (June 4) and Bilbao (June 25) they will live two family bicycle parties. Short popular marches will be held, with low mileage, in order to promote cycling culture and sustainable mobility in a playful way and in a festive atmosphere.
The week prior to the start of the 110th edition of the Tour will arrive loaded with “major events of global impact“.”On June 29, the fanpark in the Paseo del Arenal area, in Bilbao. An open space in which, from cycling in general and the Tour de France in particular, numerous activities and proposals will be developed, of the most varied“, explained.
On that same date, in the afternoon, it will be the turn of the Official Presentation of Teams of the Tour de France 2023, a test that will be broadcast in almost 200 countries. “It will take place in the wide environment of the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum and is aimed at all audiences. A party in which you can also admire the great protagonists of the race“, stood out. On June 30 it will be time to take a breather for the “explosion” that will take place over the next three days, with the stages of Bilbao – Bilbao (185 km), Vitoria-Gasteiz – San Sebastián (209 km) and Amorebieta-Etxano – Baiona ( 185 km).
Source: Eitb
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