Someone will get their hands on the famous yellow jersey tomorrow but, in truth, we can all basque in Tour de France glory.
Le Grand Depart of the most famous cycle race in the world sets off this year around Bilbao for 182km and cycling fans will be relishing the choice.
Bilbao and the Basque Region are, of course famous as a culinary centre and a pescatarian’s dream.
With a lunch hour involving families picking away at platters of grilled prawns (other fish is available) and washing it down with txakoli wine.
While Bilbao also boasts Europe’s largest indoor market.
At over 110,000 sqft where you can browse the produce and take in the jazz.
Peck at your pintxos
And, of course, you can’t visit Bilbao without going native and heading for the pintxos bars.
Where you can gorge yourself on the small pieces of bread topped with classic ingredients from meat and vegetables to seafood, all held together with a cocktail stick.
Probably not the best prep for today’s cyclists although tales abound.
Of their predecessors’ joie de vivre and love of cuisine and canoodles.
The riders will assemble on a hilltop above the city and loop around Bilbao.
Funiciular fun
For the rest of us we can ascend by funicular, and we love a funicular.
The old mountain railway has been running since the 19th century.
And shuttles visitors up and down Artxanda Mountain where you’ll get the best vistas of the city.
And we’ll be expecting running commentary on the city’s many attractions.
Bilbao wow
With, of course, the Guggenheim, 25 years old last year, garnering most attention.
With the world’s largest flower sculpture, Jeff Koons’ Puppy (or what I title Bilbao Wow) it’s frontpiece.
The Guggenheim, one of three in Europe and seven in the world is a showpiece for Basque art and loves Cubism and the experimental.
And again for the Koons, and tulips fans, among us Jeff has a signature construction of our fave flower inside.
The churches right across Spain, and yes we know the Basque Region sees itself as separate, vies with any museum or gallery for art.
So visit Bilbao Cathedral dedicated to our favourite apostle, James or Santiago.
Built in the 15th century in both Gothic and neo-Gothic style.
Its cloisters, alters and towers, as well as the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art is the answer to many a prayer.
Show your Basque
As is the fact that the riders and the spectators have Le Tour for the next couple of stages.
With a 209km hilly second stage from Vitoria Gasteiz-San Sebastian.
And a a downhiller and some sprinting too in the third stage.
It’s a 187.4kmer from Amorebieta across the border to Bayonne.
Which again the Basque people will tell you, as we know from our wanderings from Biarritz, is part of their region.
Still, all such conversations are for a different time, the Tour de France has its own borders.
It’s just enough in the first few days to Basque in Tour de France glory before others take over.
