The final stage is short but far from an afterthought: the terrain picks up noticeably compared to the flatness of the Landes, with a few punchy rises along the Basque corniche between seaside towns. It’s also the most urban and lively stage of the whole route, through Biarritz and its Grande Plage, then Saint-Jean-de-Luz and its fishing harbour.
The finish toward Hendaye follows the Corniche Basque, a road perched above the ocean with the first Spanish peaks on the horizon — a spectacular way to close out 1,300 km of riding.
Hendaye-Plage, facing the Chingoudy bay and Hondarribia on the Spanish side, marks the official end of La Vélodyssée. Strong riders can carry straight on into the Spanish EuroVelo 1, or simply savour the finish with one last night on the coast.
Distances shown are indicative; the Basque corniche brings a few hillier sections than the rest of the route.