Mendikleta - Irissarry 2027

Mendikleta - Irissarry is a mountain-bike and walking event in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, located in the French Basque Country. The event is situated around Irissarry and Bidarray, offering a range of route options from short 8 km and 15 km walks to more challenging 40 km and 48 km VTT (mountain bike) courses. The longest published bike route involves approximately 1600 m of climbing, and the 40 km option includes about 1400 m of elevation gain, indicating these are substantial hilly rides, not flat leisure routes. The event also includes a randonnée component, extending its scope beyond just a bike race. A notable feature is that certain VTT routes utilize private land accessible only through specific agreements with property owners. Participants are explicitly asked not to use these private tracks again without prior authorization after the event. This aspect lends Mendikleta a local, arranged character, as the course relies on access that is typically restricted, and adherence to these access conditions is crucial for the event's continuation.