After many years pursuing the goal, the city of Bilbao will live this weekend the start of the most emblematic race of world cycling: he Tower of France. The countdown, which began in March 2021 when the Basque Government and the City Council of the Biscayan capital reached an agreement with ASO, the organizing company of the cycling event, is about to come to an end and this is how it is perceived in the streets , that a few days after the start They wear the characteristic yellow colors of the race.
The Tour requires an organization of major proportions and the city is preparing to welcome it in the best possible way the “biggest event” he has “faced”. This was stated last May by the councilor for Economic Development, Commerce and Employment of the city council, Xabier Otxandiano, who added that the reception of the race “does not obey a flash of a day” and that they have been working for years “on a very clear: sporting, cultural and business events”.
In fact, the negotiations to bring the ‘Grande Boucle’ began in 2016, when the consistory invited the general director of the Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme, to enjoy a stage of the Vuelta a España that passed through the town. At that moment, negotiations began that will bear fruit these days, with the start of the most important cycling race from the outskirts of the San Mamés stadium this Saturday, July 1.
However, cycling fans and citizens who want to soak up the atmosphere that surrounds this very special test, will be able to enjoy this Thursday the official team presentationwhich will be seen on the stage located on Paseo Abandoibarra, between the Euskalduna Palace and the Guggenheim Museum.
Great economic impact
The effort to bring an event of these dimensions to the Basque Country has involved a considerable effort from Basque institutions, which translates, among other things, into more 12 million euros invested. More than two thirds of the investment, according to official data, has been made by the Basque Government (3.2), Bilbao City Council (3.2) and Vizcaya Provincial Council (2.4). The councils of Guipúzcoa (1.1) and Álava (0.5) and the municipalities of San Sebastián (1.1) and Vitoria (0.5) have contributed the rest of the investment until completing the 12 million cost of this historic event, both at a sporting and social level, which will pass through almost half of the Basque municipalities.
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Now, after the disbursement, it is time to make the investment profitable, which is estimated to be of more than 100 million euros. Although the final numbers will not be known until after the French round has passed, the first estimates based on experiences of the departure of the ‘Grande Boucle’ outside France in the last decade such as Yorkshire, Brussels, Dusseldorf or Copenhagen point to a return of between 6 and 9 euros per euro investedaccording to the calculations provided at the time by Otxandiano.
Sectors like the hotelier, or hospitality local will have a good business opportunity due to the fans that drag the Tour and the staff that is part of the race itself. Workers of the participating teams, sponsors, security members and nearly 3,000 accredited journalists who will broadcast the event live to 190 countries They are part of the tens of thousands of people who will move and consume through the cities of the Basque Country during the first three stages.
Israel MunizCEO of the hotel Taycopoints out that there has been “very good welcome” and they are practically complete for the weekend. “We are very happy, because we also have two restaurants where we also perceive a greater volume of customers”, he declares. The deputy director of the Vincci Consulate hotel in Bilbao, Arturo Garcia-Loygorriwhich recognizes that they have a good influx of reserves, also due to the different groups that arrive through travel agencies from Belgium, France, the Netherlands and other countries in central Europe to enjoy the ‘Grand Départ’.
The hotel industry in the city center will also benefit from this event, at least they think so Hector Sanchezmanager of the Vizcaya Hospitality Associationwhich positively values the good results in the accommodation, although it points out that there is some uncertainty with what the event will really mean for bars and restaurants.
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“What these days will bring us is unknown. In other years that the Tour has passed, it has not had much of an impact on us, but I think the Tour does move more people. I hope people come from Cantabria, Burgos and other areas in the north, where there is a lot of love for cycling”, he points out. ruben garciarestaurant manager take a rest and manager of three other stores in the Ledesma area of Bilbao.
Bilbao, on the international map
Beyond the short-term effect of the Tour de France on the economy of the Basque Country, and Bilbao specifically, both the hotels and the hospitality industry in the area agree that this event is a great opportunity for the city in general. And it is that, the gala round, in addition to a race in which the best runners in the world fight for glory, is also a televised announcement in almost 200 countries in which tens of millions of people will follow the race daily on television. More than any other sporting event except for the Olympic Games and the World Cup. The aerial images of the route and the shots of the streets around Vizcaya, Álava and Guipúzcoa will show the world the impressive landscapes of the region.
“More than the business these days, which is very good but it’s only one or two days, the really interesting thing is to put ourselves on the map”
“In addition to the immediate direct impact, which is evident, there is also a medium or long term effect due to its very important media and advertising repercussions”, considers Sánchez. In it agrees Felix Partybusinessman in charge of Saturday Ollawhich manages ten establishments in Bilbao: “More than the business during these days, which is very good but it is only one or two days, the really interesting thing is to place ourselves on the map”. For his part, Muñiz considers that the town “has been consolidating for some time as a welcoming city for sporting events, congresses and concerts of all kinds” and, in his opinion, this means “returning to put Bilbao in a very important international role and in the eyes of many potential customers”.
García-Loygorri sees this date as a “new opportunity to position oneself” and that depending on how the event unfolds, “it will say a lot about the capacity of the city to host this type of event and that the tourism industry can grow even more”.
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Logistical uncertainty
It is evident that at an economic and social level the French round will bring great news, however, this 110th edition will be the second time that the legendary race starts south of the Pyrenees. The other occasion was in 1992, with an official departure from San Sebastián. Therefore, all doubts are reasonable and the uncertainty that has been disturbing the service sector these days. And it is that, the innumerable restrictions on mobility in the streets and highways of the Basque Country will affect a large majority of society, even more so the hotel workers, who have been forced to advance their orders and supply the necessary goods. to face the weekend.
“A part of the hospitality industry will benefit, but there is another that will have to make up for the drawbacks of a career of these characteristics. Many places on the outskirts, outside the city, which will have roads cut off and, therefore, Neither customers nor workers will be able to go to the premises. They have no other option than not to function”, points out the manager of the Vizcaya Hotel and Catering Association and points out that the supplies of raw materials will be reinforced: “It is the first time that an event of these characteristics has come to Bilbao and it is difficult to calculate How big is the avalanche going to be? It’s unknown.”
The same questions are shared by Félix Parte, who, speaking with other colleagues, perceives a disparity of opinions about the effects of the Tour on the hospitality industry. “There are people that they think that it will be a good thing, but others think that with so many roadblocks the city could become somewhat isolated. I think there will be work and we will reinforce ourselves with more staff, but it may happen that in the end there are fewer clients than expected. Until the moment arrives, we will not know”, acknowledges the businessman.
Like the rest of his colleagues, Rubén García has advanced the necessary orders at the beginning of the week. “The hoteliers have reinforced templates, because we don’t really know what’s coming and the carriers are not clear about it either. There is a bit of misinformation in that regard, but, on the street people are excited”points out the manager of Atseden.
Thus, as the day marked in red on the calendar approaches, the streets of Bilbao are turning yellow to welcome a Tour de France that will be historic for the Basque Country. A weekend is expected a lot of movement, emotion, music, illusion and a festive atmosphere. But also work, business and stress for many employees who will fight to get the biggest event held in this city that loves cycling so much.
2023-06-30 05:30:40
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