- The first stage of the Itzulia 2024 is to start and end in the town of Irun in Gipuzkoa.
- The second stage is to start in Irun and then leave Gipuzkoa.
The town that will host the start of the Itzulia 2024 was officially presented today, 28 September. The 63rd edition of the race will start with a 10km urban time trial. The second stage will start from Irun and then leave Guipuzcoa.
Irun will once again form part of the Itzulia after a break of 18 years. In the history of the Itzulia Irun has hosted 2 starts, 1 finish, 4 stage starts and 3 stage finishes. The border town in the Bidasoa region was first visited by the race in 1975. In 2006 the race kicked off with a start and finish in Irun for an online stage won by Alejandro Valverde.
The mayor of Irun, José Antonio Santano, thanked the organisers for their willingness to host the event and stressed that “the city is committed to hosting top-level events that put Irun on the map of major events. Irun will once again be a venue for the start of a cycling event of the stature of the Itzulia, and that is great news. Cycling fans in Irun will once again be able to enjoy the best cyclists of the day as they were able to during the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France. This time with a first stage set to take place entirely in our city”.
Julian Eraso, president of Itzulia organiser OCETA, commented at the presentation that “we are very happy that a city as important as Irun for the Basque Country wishes to host the start of the Itzulia on its streets. A global showcase and a spectacle for the fans. Adding that “Irun is committed to cycling and will host the first stage, a time trial through the city, and the start of the second stage”.
About Irun
Irun, the second most populated town in Gipuzkoa, is an attractive destination thanks to its combination of culture, sport, gastronomy and nature.
20 minutes from San Sebastian and Biarritz and one hour from Bilbao and Pamplona, it surprises with its peculiar history, spectacular landscapes and extensive cultural riches.
Irun is the land of cycling. The Vuelta al Bidasoa, one of the most prestigious amateur races on the national circuit, finishes each year in the city. Moreover, in 2020 Irun hosted the start of La Vuelta a España, and in 2022 the start of one of its first stages. In 2023, the Tour de France peloton passed through the centre of Irun, gathering hundreds of fans on its streets, having traversed the Basque Country.
