Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 01:10
Four days after birth, the return to Spain was already walking through the streets of Bilbao, the end of the fourth stage in 1935. That first edition opened between the race and the city a relationship that this Wednesday turns 90 years with the return of the Cycling caravan to the place where he resurrected in 1955. La Ronda, which had not played four years, was rescued from oblivion by the newspaper El Correo. The Biscayan capital and the Basque roads then became the great stage of a champions catwalk: Anquetil, Coppi, Bahamontes, Loroño, Gimondi, Merckx, Poulidor, Ocaña, Fuente, Hinault … when in 1978 the Bilbao newspaper stopped organizing the race began an absence of 33 years that ended in 2011: Igor Antón Euskalel-Euskadi, entered as the winner of the nineteenth stage in a garrow crowded and happy. “I have won in the capital of the world,” said Galdakao corridor. And in the historical capital of the Vuelta. La Ronda and Bilbao have been hand in hand.
This Wednesday touches another chapter: 157 kilometers with departure in the surroundings of San Mamés (13.30 hours) and goal in the Gran Vía, with steps for the highs of Laukiz, Sollube, balcony of Bizkaia, double crossroads for the nursery and the Pike Bidea wall just 8 kilometers from the final banner. Around 17.20 the name of the winner will be known, which will enter a list inaugurated on May 2, 1935 by an indomitable Belgian, made in smuggling and poaching, which slept with a shotgun under the bed. Gustave Deloor was the first winner in Bilbao. He took the 300 pesetas of the award – less of two euros – when taking advantage of the error of Mariano Cañardo, who believed that there were three and not four turned to the final circuit. Deloor, who also won that edition and the next one, ended up working for NASA in the Apollo project. From Bilbao to the moon.
After 33 years of absence the race returned in 2011 and saw Igor Antón and Euskaltel-Euskadi
The city was destined to be part of the history of this sport. Cycling had set with force thanks to enthusiasts such as those of the Bilbao cycling society and adventurers like Tomás Pérez de Junguitu, who in 1928, as Juanfran de la Cruz remembers in his book about the round, turned Spain around, pedaling alone for 34 days. Member of the Fortuna Club of Bilbao, covered more than 4,500 kilometers and was received on its return for a crowd. According to the chronicles, “in an unfortunate state.” Although it helped to clear the path that led to the birth of the Vuelta, in 1935. It lasted little. Two years. The Civil War buried the race in a trench.
He returned in 1941 and in the next edition a French without luck in Tour, René Vietto, found his fortune in Bilbao. Although it cost him. Road of the goal in the Biscayan capital suffered several breakdowns. It was lagging behind. But near Sollube, one of those in charge of indicating the direction of the race confused on the way to the platoon. Vietto, who came from behind, suddenly looked in the lead. He threw on the good route and entered winner. He could not repeat in 1943 because there was no career. The II Guerramundial was the cause. The return had no continuity until in 1955 the mail took her out of her grave.
Loroño-Bahamontes duel filled the gutters
It all started in Lekeitio, where the families Echevarría, Bergareche, Canales … organized fishing championships and talked about sport, ball, football, Athletic and Tour. Alejandro Echevarría and Luis Bergareche, who were brothers -in -law, traveled to feel the atmosphere of the Grande Boucle. One question had the effect of a flash: “Why don’t we organize the return to Spain?” Thus began that business and also emotional adventure. With a million pesetas (6,000 euros) and the collaboration of a group of friends, those responsible for the newspaper carried out the race. Bilbao was a starting point and end of that edition. The wind blew: in 1957 the duel between the Biscay Loroño and the toledo Bahamontes filled the gutters and turned the return into the great sporting event.
The streets of Bilbao dressed in ‘return’. The advertising caravan walked the decorated trucks of Campari, Seguros Bilbao, Vespa, the Faes beetle, the Tulipán Gargantúa, the Firestone’s caterpillar, the Valet vacuum cleaner … It was a popular party with musical performances included. A success. The Tour had catapulted the sales of the organizing newspaper, ‘L’Equipe’, heir to ‘l’Auto’. The return was key for ElCorreo to win the race in the kiosks to ‘La Gaceta del Norte’. And it was something else: thanks to the commercial agreements with other newspapers of regions that circulated the round, a network that gave rise to the current Vocento Group, leader of communication in Spain was woven.
Bilbao released from the hand of the Vuelta when in 1978 the Bilbao newspaper stopped organizing the race. The repetition of incidents and road cuts and the threat of the terrorist band ETA gave him the tip. To this was added the performance of the president of the Spanish Cycling Federation, Luis Puig, who wanted to set up his own return with the Spanish television support. For more than three decades, the round was far from Euskadi, the mountains and cities where his golden age had lived.
The return began to take shape in 2009. The then Minister of Culture of the Basque Government, Blanca Urgell, declared: “We will make the return return to Euskadi.” The Socialist Executive Patxi López chose his sports director, Patxi Mutiloa, who had already met during the previous summer with the race director, Javier Guillén. Mutila also maintained contacts with ASO, the company that owns the Tour and already the return. Some municipalities such as Getxo, Bilbao, Barakaldo and Vitoria showed their interest in hosting the race. In the end there was agreement and the return returned home in 2011 with stage late in Bilbao and Vitoria. I felt we were making history, “Guillén said. The round recovered his memory.
The reunion in 2011
And reunion day came: September 9, nineteenth stage. Goal in Bilbao, which melted at 40 degrees. The lap ran into a city crowded with the same cycling fans but very changed. Nothing to do with that gray and industrial city that lived on their backs to the estuary. He wore the metallic face of Guggenheim. The tourist anthill began to invade the corners of the ‘Botxo’. Bilbao was already preparing to be the headquarters of future great sporting events, as European Fúbol and Rugby ends, and for, in 2023, host the great departure of the Tour de France. The return of La Vuelta in 2011 showed the way to the big Boucle.
That September 9, 2011 was “an unforgettable day.” Javier Guillén remembers the stage between Noja and Bilbao. Igor Antón and his partner Gorka Verdugo were escaped with Marzio Brongo. The poster announced the entrance to Euskadi. «Brushhin let the two Ruskaltel runners pass in front. Igor Anton touched his chest with his fist. Verdugo did the same. Seeing them was exciting, ”said the director of the Round in an interview with this newspaper. «We meet the best fans in the world, with a land we longed for. It is the most exciting stage I have lived as director of the Vuelta, ”he acknowledged. Since then the race and Bilbao continue hand in hand by adding new chapters such as Wednesday.
