The new Orbea Gravel Aiaraldea cycling event was unveiled on May 28th with distinguished guests. The sporting competition, to be held on June 6th in Amurrio, will follow in the footsteps of renowned events like the Orbea Gravel Rioja Alavesa or Orbea Monegros, with Arabako Txakolina (Álava's Txakoli wine) as a central theme.
Former professional cyclists Izaskun Bengoa and Haimar Zubeldia served as ambassadors for the initiative during the presentation event held at the Refor facilities in Amurrio. The details of the race were outlined there.
The organizers have proposed two routes to allow participants to experience the region's natural environment firsthand. The shorter route will cover 57 kilometers with an elevation gain of 1,400 meters. Those registered for the longer race, however, will face a 90-kilometer course with 2,100 meters of elevation gain.
“"Orbea Gravel Aiaraldea is an opportunity to continue positioning our territory as a benchmark destination in the field of cycle tourism, advocating for a development model that combines sport, sustainability, and cultural promotion. Initiatives like this not only attract visitors but also generate economic activity, strengthen local identity, and energize our regions."
Orbea has described the event as a "premium experience," and consequently, a limited number of bibs are available: 500 in total. The registration period opened in December and closed on May 25th.
The event on June 6th will not be limited to just a cycling race. Activities will commence the day before (June 5th) in the center of Amurrio. In addition to the official opening ceremony and bib distribution, there will be a demonstration of traditional Basque sports (herri kirolak) and live music. On Saturday, there will also be an opportunity to taste the bean stew prepared by the current champion of Euskadi's Putxeras competition.
