Donostia-Baiona-Donostia 2026

The route

The Donostia-Baiona-Donostia reaches its 24th edition in 2026 and remains one of the most distinctive sportives in the north of Spain. The route starts in San Sebastián, crosses the border through pine-covered hills, reaches Bayonne, and returns — genuinely cross-border, not just in name. Two distances: 121 km with 2,005 metres of climbing and 82 km with 1,531 metres. The numbers tell an important story: there is no single defining high pass. Instead, the route piles up repeated climbs of 200 to 500 metres throughout the day, which is typical of the terrain on the French Basque side.

The standout climb on the long route is the Jaizkibel: 9 km from sea level, sustained gradient, and views over the Cantabrian coast that make the effort worthwhile. The Bidasoa border crossings and the rolling interior of the Labourd complete the picture. Nothing above 600 metres, but no flat road to recover on either. The Jaizkibel has a particular character — it starts almost at the water's edge, the opening kilometres are steep, and the top leaves you with the sea below and open sky above. What makes this ride special is the cultural mix: in 121 km you cross two countries, hear two languages, ride through Basque architecture on both sides of the border, and follow a coastline that, on a clear April day, is genuinely breathtaking.

April on the Basque-French coast is meteorologically unpredictable. The Bay of Biscay drives frequent Atlantic fronts bringing rain and SW winds. Mild rainy days at 12 to 16°C alternate with bright spells and a fresh breeze. Wind is the key weather factor on this route: the coastal passes, particularly the Jaizkibel and the Bidasoa crossings, regularly see gusts of 20 to 35 km/h from the SW during front passages. The coastal return section from Bayonne, with the sea on your left, is the most exposed stretch: wind arrives unimpeded and can be a direct headwind or sharp crosswind for several kilometres at a stretch.

Registration at donostiabaionadonostia.com. San Sebastián has excellent rail links from Madrid, Barcelona, and the Basque cities, and a wide range of accommodation. The point-to-point-and-back format means no transfer logistics to worry about. Kit for the day: always carry a lightweight waterproof, even if the morning looks fine — weather can change quickly on the Jaizkibel or at the border passes. The combination of two countries, coastline, interior terrain, and relentless accumulated climbing makes this route worth every kilometre of the long distance.

Variants and GPX

Past editions

Real Open-Meteo weather on each edition day.

How to register

Registration, price and rules are on the official website of the organization. Official march website →

More information

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