Organised by Bizikleta Taldea Pays Basque, La Bizikleta celebrated its fifth edition on Pentecost Sunday, with nearly 2,000 cyclists taking on two demanding routes through the Pyrénées-Atlantiques on roads that have hosted both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
With both routes starting and finishing in St Jean de Luz, France, La Muxu (110km) was dominated by Théo Riflade (VCSG), who crossed the line in 03:00:51 at an average speed of 36.49 km/h to win. Paul Schaab (ACBB) gave chase but arrived 2 minutes 21 seconds behind, while Tom Burtre (Mont Vélogre) and Vincent Tessier (Guidon Saint Martinois) were a further 2 seconds back.
The women’s Muxu went to Mélanie Guiseppin (MC82), who finished in 03:09:45 at 34.78 km/h. No stranger to winning against the odds, the 33-year-old from Team Grand Sud Cyclisme Féminin caused a national stir earlier this season when she claimed the French e-cycling championship as an outsider, later admitting she “never could have imagined living that one day.” On Sunday, she left no doubt, putting Cassiopée Chatelle (ACC Bordeaux) 3 minutes 59 seconds behind, while teammate Marie Clever finished a further 8 minutes back in third.
The longer La Pimentée (148km) produced the day’s most compelling story. Emmanuel Cognet (UC Aire Barcelonne), 34, arrived in Saint-Jean-de-Luz carrying fresh momentum: just 14 days earlier, he had won the French Masters road championship in the 35-39 age category at Hégenheim, Alsace. He backed it up on Sunday with another commanding ride, taking the Pimentée in 04:14:50 — 2 minutes 46 seconds clear of Yohan Soubes (Dordogne Sud Cyclisme) and Aurélien Gallo (UC Orthez), who finished in that order.
Charlie Vinet rode solo to a commanding women’s Pimentée title in 05:03:23, a full 21 minutes 38 seconds ahead of Aurélie Mesplède (ASS Soustons), while Charlotte Belaubre Morel (Mytribe) finished third at 23 minutes 2 seconds.
2026 La Bizikleta results HERE
Photo Credit: Facebook/Jean-François Irigoyen
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