Vuelta 2025 Route stage 11: Bilbao

Vuelta 2025 Route stage 11: Bilbao - Bilbao

Wednesday, 3 September - Stage 11 of La Vuelta is a rollercoaster ride full of of short, steep climbs around Bilbao. The Basque city serves as both the start and finish of the 167-kilometre race.

Nestled between the lush green hills of the Basque Country and sitting on the banks of the Nervión River, Bilbao is home to nearly 350,000 people, making it Spain’s tenth-largest city. Its most famous attraction is the Guggenheim Museum, where visitors marvel at modern art.

Cycling fans, however, are more interested in the riders, and Bilbao has seen plenty of them. The city has seen 34 Vuelta stage starts and 44 finishes. The first was back in 1935, when Belgian Gustaaf Deloor claimed victory before going on to win the overall title that year. The most recent winner in Bilbao was Marc Soler in 2022.

This year’s stage is packed with sharp climbs. The first challenge is the Alto de Laukiz, 2.6 kilometres at 6.6%, with a brutal section of nearly 12% just before the top. Next up is the Puerto de San Pelayo, 4 kilometres long and averaging 7.3%.

After passing through Guernica — immortalised by Picasso’s painting that depicts the bombing of the town — the riders tackle the Balcón de Bizkaia, a 4.3-kilometre climb at 5.8%. From there, the peloton descends to Múgica to take on the Alto de Morga, a 4.1-kilometre climb at 4.8%. There are still 71 kilometres left to race at the summit.

The route then continues with a double ascent of the Alto del Vivero (4.7 kilometres at 7.8%), creating a finale reminiscent of the 2022 stage to Bilbao. But there’s a twist — this time, the stage doesn’t end after the second descent of the Vivero. Instead, it continues to the top of the Alto de Pike. At 2.2 kilometres, the Pike is shorter than the Vivero but far steeper, averaging 9.1%.

The summit of the Alto de Pike comes just over 7 kilometres from the finish line.