Adam Jordan (cap 2) [@its.adam.jordan](https://www.instagram.com/its.adam.jordan/ "Adam Jordan Instagram") becomes the first finisher of Basajaun 2025, in 51 hrs 12 mins. Chapeau Adam!

  > *The journey ends where it began, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the vibrant capital of the Basque Country. After days of wild terrain and remote landscapes, crossing the finish line here feels like a return to civilisation, rich in culture, history, and well-earned celebration. Words courtesy of Transiberica Ultracycling*

Lukas Kienreich (cap 107) [@lks9vknr](https://www.instagram.com/lks9vknr/ "Lukas Kienreich Instagram") appears to have continued his lead up until approx. 635km (or near the village of Villoslada de Cameros) where he and Adam then rode on towards CP4 - Demandas. About three quarters of the way up the climb Lukas' dot turns round and heads back down towards the village. He then stays there, only recently setting off again back towards CP4. A mechanical would be my most likely speculation, putting a literal spanner in the works of his race.

Joachim Lindhardt (cap 76) is currently in 2nd place, with less than 25km to go to the finish. He was one of the riders in the leading pack back at the very start of the race and looks to have paced things well. 10km separates Joachim to 3rd place rider Federico Bassis (cap 53). However, Federico's tracker doesn't appear to have registered him as passing through CP5 - Izki. This is likely due to poor signal, rather than a routing issue. Both riders should finish shortly.

  > *The Sierra de Cameros and Sierra de la Demanda mark the final major challenge of the Basajaun route. Today mostly abandoned, these mountains once played a vital role in Spain’s rural economy. In 1273, the creation of La Mesta a powerful institution promoting transhumance (seasonal livestock migration) turned the region into a key grazing hub. Using the royal glens (cañadas reales), herders moved vast flocks between these high pastures and the southern plains of Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucía. By the late 17th century, over 200,000 sheep were raised here. The prosperity of that era also fueled early mining, including the charcoal mines of Prejano. Riders will pass along an abandoned railway once used to transport minerals a haunting symbol of the area’s industrious past. Though naturally arid and unsuited to crop farming, the land was ideal for grazing. But as transhumance faded, so did the population, leaving behind empty landscapes and forgotten infrastructure. Just after crossing the Cameros range, riders will face the route’s most demanding ascent: the climb to Pico de las Tres Cruces in the Sierra de la Demanda the highest point of the Basajaun course at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level. Words courtesy of Transiberica Ultracycling*

In the Women's race Anna Kofler (cap 13) [@annakoflerin](https://www.instagram.com/annakoflerin/ "Anna Kofler Instagram") climbs up the hills (and rankings), entering the top 20 (currently paced in 17th). Anna has just reached the highest point on the course and CP4! Julie Von Gruenigen (cap 91), previously 2nd, scratched at the village of San Vicente, approx. 360km along the route. Reaching almost half way along this route is an epic achievement. With JVG now out, Marta Álvarez Fernández (cap 117) moves up into 2nd, as she progress towards CP3.

In the pairs category Mikel Lacasta & Asier Irigoyen (cap 341) lead, heading towards CP4. Rudy Marcuzzo & Riccardo De Rossi are the first pair to DNF.

Check out more race coverage and media at [https://www.instagram.com/transiberica_club/ ](https://www.instagram.com/transiberica_club/ "Transiberic Instagram")

Demanda Finalizar

The riders have now all passed CP1 and are spread out along the course from Urbasa to Bardenas, with about 400km between the first and last rider. The current lead rider, Lukas Kienreich (cap 107) is now over half way through the course, at approx. 530km mark and is approaching CP4. After sitting in the top ten, Lukas appears to have taken the front of the race in the town of Auritz, just before CP2. This check points marks the start of forest lands.

  > *Irati Jungle/Selva de Irati is one of the largest and best-preserved beech and fir forests in Europe. Shaped by its alpine climate and the humid air drifting in from the Atlantic, it shares much of the flora and fauna typical of the Pyrenees. Although larger towns aren’t far away, this remains a remote and rugged area, straddling the natural border between Spain and France. The terrain is marked by rolling hills and steep slopes, with dense vegetation that has earned it the name Jungle of Irati. In fact, due to its harsh landscape and thick forest, there was no road access to this natural park until 1964. Our route will avoid the main road and instead follow quieter, lesser-known trails into the heart of the Irati Jungle. This approach allows us to fully experience the wildness of the landscape and appreciate just how remote and untouched this area still is— especially when seen from the heights of the surrounding mountains.* *Words courtesy of Transiberica Ultracycling*

Likely opting for a different rest/resupply strategy to near by riders, Lukas was quickly over taken again, before he then regained the lead in the town of Ezcaroz. Since then he has maintained his lead of approx. 10km to Adam Jordan (cap 2), current 2nd, and Mikel Biain (cap 132) in 3rd.

Anna Kofler (cap 13) leads the women's field in 21st position overall, nearing CP3 - Bardenas. Check out her bike and kit [here](https://dotwatcher.cc/feature/bikes-of-basajaun-2025 "Bikes of Basajaun 2025"), along with the other riders! Julie Von Gruenigen (cap 91) is 2nd and Marta Álvarez Fernández (cap 117) is in 3rd - I believe.![Anna Koflers Bike](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5KCqan15ElLwX5L3TsHBn5/aef518bceae6c8129fa0ab82446b6979/Anna_Kofler_Bikes_of_Basajaun_2025.jpeg)
Anything between 300km and 700km of riding still lies between the participants and the finish line, as well as some epic scenery and climbs. Of note approx. 40km on from CP4 - Demanda, is the Collado de las tres Cruces, at nearly 2000m high. Luckily for the riders - what goes up must also come down...

Check out more race coverage and media at [https://www.instagram.com/transiberica_club/ ](https://www.instagram.com/transiberica_club/ "Transiberic Instagram")


Irati and onwards...

Setting off at 0800 local time from Vitoria, the first riders have already passed Check Point 1 (CP1) in the Urbasa National Park. A group of four riders; Unai Mateos (cap 185), Erik Van Holland (cap 52), Hendrik Venema (cap 63) and Joachim Lindhardt (cap 76) lead by about 2km, to a large chasing pack on the gravel climb. Now approx. 90km into this epic race the leaders appear to have stopped to take advantage of possible refreshments and resupply.

> "Urbasa mountain range is a plateau located in the west of Navarra with an average altitude of about 1,000 m a.s.l. This great upland drops abruptly to the north and south and extends with a similar height to the east and west. It represents a geomorphological and climatic border between the Atlantic and Alpine (Pyrenees) to the north, and the Mediterranean to the south. The wet winds of the Atlantic coast and the massive area of beech keeps the humidity high in this area. The name Urbasa means 'wet forest' in Basque (Ur means 'water' and basa 'forest'). The Urbasa plateau will be acceded through the Errigoiti pass, a small canyon that makes its way through the cliffs surrounded by two small waterfalls that will need to be overcome. It’s rideable until the last 300 meters, where there are two little creeks that need to be crossed. This represents our entry to the limit of Urbasa Plateau."*Words courtesy of Traniberica Ultracycling*

Of the 150 solo riders and 18 pairs on the start list, it appears ten solo riders did not start (DNS). From what I can tell, of theses 186 riders only three are female.

At just over a 10th of the way into this 842km route, the riders will cover a total of 16000m elevation and reach a highest point of 1980m altitude.

Check out more race coverage and media at [https://www.instagram.com/transiberica_club/ ](https://www.instagram.com/transiberica_club/ "Transiberic Instagram")

Next up... Irati.

Towards Urbasa

> "From the misty forests to the high passes of the Pyrenees, and onward through the desert where the sun scorches without mercy and the land doesn’t care who you are only how much heart you bring.
> 
> You’ll ride through remote, untamed terrain, climb endless dunes and brutal ridgelines, and find yourself in landscapes so wild and vast, they’ll leave you speechless or in tears. Maybe both."

*Words courtesy of Transiberica Ultracycling*

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Basajaun 2025: Route Preview

The meaning / story of Basajaun, what it represents, and the reason for the name, is to defend the values of yesteryear, the forest and the rural world:

There are no more oak trees left. In fact, the landscape and its people can change very quickly. However, if you observe carefully and move away from the city, you can find their footprints deep in the Basque forest. What's more, with enough patience, you can discover where their true habitat is. To do this, you'll have to keep an eye out in the forests of Irati, Ataun, or Gorbeia, in case you hear or find anything.

It could be Basajaun (the Lord of the Forest) or Basandere (the Lady of the Forest). Both are covered in thick fur and have a robust appearance, similar to that of giants. Would you like to be their friend? In the past, they helped farmers, shepherds, and blacksmiths with their knowledge. It is said that "Little Martin" stole the secrets of Basajaun and Basandere, with which he built our modern sedentary civilisation.![Basajaun Text 2025](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/L8dBPoLqBskrU9ChzE7EE/3514d8c0b8feb37172cf774fb04f510a/BASAJAUN.png)

*Words and images courtesy of Transiberica Ultracycling*

Basajaun 2025: The Story

Kirsten Cluley

Amrei Kuhne

Anatole Naimi

Basajaun 2025 Tracking and Commentary: From the lush forests of Urbasa and Irati (home to Basajun), riders will descend to the most arid and barren plains through Bardenas Reales, returning to the banks of the Ebro river before facing the Sierra de la Demanda, a mountainous massif in “land of cameros”of transhumants who face very harsh lands in terms of climate, to culminate around the Pico San Lorenzo and return to the forests of the Basque Country, through the Izki Natural Park.

Basajaun 2025

From lush forests, riders will descend to barren plains, after reaching the banks of the Ebro river they will tackle the Sierra de la Demanda. The route culminates around the Pico San Lorenzo, before returning to the Basajaun homelands.

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Basajaun 2025

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