The Slovenian Tadej Pogaçar (UAE), top favorite for the final victory in the Tour de France that begins on Saturday in Bilbao together with the Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo), has won over the thousands of people who have warmed up the presentation of the gala round throwing a wink that has raised one of the biggest ovations of the afternoon.
"Aupa Bilbao, Aupa Athletic, Gora Euskadi!!!", launched Joxean Fernández Matxin's pupil from Biscay in his brief address on the spectacular stage set up at the foot of the Guggenheim Museum in front of the human tide that has defied the rain, first the typical Bilbao 'sirimiri' and then more intense, crowding the circuit set up on Paseo de Abandoibarra.
A little more restrained has been a Vingegaard who, together with Wout van Aert and the rest of Jumbo, has confessed a few minutes before his great rival that it will be "a pleasure to defend the title in front of these incredible people".
The fans have enjoyed for about an hour and a half the parade of the 22 participating teams headed by Basque cycling legends, the first Joane Somarriba, triple winner of the Women's Tour at the beginning of the 21st century, in charge of guiding Bahrain in two of local idols, Mikel Landa, who promised to "try hard from day one", and Pello Bilbao.
The act concluded with recognition of the five-time Tour champion Miguel Indurain, who received another of the great ovations of the afternoon.
The Navarrese was one of the stars that shone the most in an afternoon of tribute to cycling that brought together figures such as Alejandro Valverde, with whom Indurain had a friendly chat for a few minutes, Marino Lejarreta, Haimar Zubeldia, David Etxebarria, Pedro Horrillo, David López, Joserra Uriarte Imanol Erviti, among many more.
