On an express road trip from Bordeaux, thousands of French fans are painting Bilbao with a rugby atmosphere in the run-up to the Champions Cup final this Saturday at San Mamés. Whether by overnight bus, car, or carpooling with friends, any mode of transport is being used to reach the Biscayan capital and experience a day that is leaving images of a true sporting pilgrimage.
The rugby party continues throughout Saturday across the city, especially in central areas like the surroundings of Doña Casilda Park, where numerous fans are resting in the shade, beer in hand and wearing their team's shirts to combat the heat. The atmosphere is proving very fitting for what this sport represents: coexistence, respect, and celebration among fans from different parts of Europe.
Leo and Baptiste are two such supporters who have traveled from France. They arrived in Bilbao on one of the nine buses organized from Bordeaux for the final. "We've had about a six-hour journey and we're going back tonight," they say while resting under a tree near the park. Both highlight the great atmosphere the city has had since early morning.
Laurence and Lionel have also traveled from France, though they came by car. "We came by car, about a four-hour drive," they explain. The couple will also take advantage of the weekend to enjoy Bilbao before returning home on Sunday.
For larger groups, the bus has been the preferred option. This is the case for Lou, who arrived with about thirty people from Bordeaux with a single objective: "We're here to win the final." Her group arrived in Bilbao around ten in the morning and will stay in the city all day before returning late. "We'll get home around three in the morning," she notes.
The French presence is also noticeable at the city's entrances and parking lots. Parking facilities like the one in Olabeaga have woken up practically invaded by French license plates. As happened on Friday, the streets are still full of shirts not only from the finalists, Bordeaux and Leinster, but also from other historic European clubs like Munster or London Irish, in a festive atmosphere that turns Bilbao into a true rugby capital this weekend.
