Stage 13 of the 2019 Vuelta (Tour of Spain) cycle race will pass over the hallowed turf of San Mamés as the stage rolls out from Bilbao. The official start will be on the esplanade outside the stadium and the riders will then enter the stadium itself and ride a lap of the pitch before exiting again during the neutralised period of the race. They then embark upon the remainder of the 167 km towards the stage finish atop the Cantabrian mountain pass of Los Machucos, which is a HC climb.
The stadium was previously acquainted with professional bike racing during the Tour of the Basque Country in 2017 and the old incarnation of San Mamés saw two Vuelta stage finishes in 1960 and 1962, won by Frans De Mulder and José Segú respectively. The 1962 stage was actually the final stage of the race and saw German rider Rudi Altig clinch the overall victory.