Seven provinces. One track. Nobody waiting for you at the next bend. That is bikepacking: you leave with what you carry and let the terrain decide the rest. Between the Atlantic, the Pyrenean passes and the gravel roads of Navarre, the Basque Country is one of Europe's finest playgrounds for riding far, for long, self-supported.
That is exactly where VELOR wanted to go. We are proud to announce our partnership with AHUÑA Bikepacking for its 2027 edition.
In short
VELOR is the new partner of AHUÑA Bikepacking 2027: an 800 km self-supported crossing of the seven Basque provinces, from 5 to 9 May 2027, limited to 50 riders and a 100-hour time limit. Together we are creating an AHUÑA edition jersey and a RELOV collection point on site to give old jerseys a second life. Discover RELOV →
~5 min read · Jump to: The partnership · Why AHUÑA · The gear · RELOV · FAQ · Shop
The VELOR × AHUÑA partnership, in practice
AHUÑA Bikepacking is not a race. It is a self-supported crossing of the seven provinces of the Basque Country: Labourd, Lower Navarre and Soule on the French side; Navarre, Gipuzkoa, Biscay and Álava on the Spanish side. A border you stop noticing, a culture that runs right across it.
For 2027, our collaboration takes three forms:
- An AHUÑA edition jersey, designed for the event's community.
- A RELOV collection point on site, so end-of-life jerseys go back into the loop instead of the back of a drawer.
- Shared storytelling, to bring the adventure to both our communities.
Why AHUÑA: freedom, in a small group
There are two ways to love wild places. You can fill them, or you can respect them.
AHUÑA chose the second. Only 50 bib numbers. A local event with a deliberately small field, because the most concrete way to reduce the footprint of an outdoor event is not to turn it into a crowd. Think local, do less but do better: that is exactly how we design our clothing.
And then there is freedom. Riding without support, choosing where to sleep, stopping for a coffee in Espelette or a pintxo in Tolosa. Bikepacking takes cycling back to the essentials: a bike, a few bags, and the urge to see what lies behind the next hill.
Putting our gear where it makes sense
Bikepacking kit is not judged on a spec sheet. It is judged after 8, 10, 12 hours in the saddle, when the Basque drizzle rolls in and the next resupply is 40 km away. That is why AHUÑA is the ideal proving ground: our products will be worn, used and tested for real. If you are preparing something similar, our long-distance cycling kit guide covers the essentials.
What we are bringing:
- Bib shorts built for long distance, like our men's and women's Cargo Bib Shorts, so comfort lasts to the end of the day.
- Cargo pockets on the thighs, to keep food and phone within reach without stopping.
- Women-specific bibs designed to keep breaks simple when you ride self-supported — Nathalie Baillon put them to the test in this long-distance review.
- The Long Sleeve Forest for cold starts and windy ridges.
- The AHUÑA edition jersey, born for this crossing.
Our promise fits in one line: made to go further. AHUÑA is where we prove it.
Go further, leave less behind
Riding through landscapes like these makes you want to keep them intact. That is VELOR's reason to exist: our jerseys are made from textile waste and old recycled jerseys. RELOV, our first fully circular piece, contains not a single fibre of virgin polyester.
At AHUÑA, the loop closes on site. The RELOV collection point will let riders drop off their end-of-life jerseys. They become recycled yarn, then fabric, then a new jersey.
Made to go further. Designed to leave less behind.
RELOV: the jersey that never ends up in the bin.
Shop RELOV →
See you in the Basque Country
AHUÑA and VELOR share the same idea of cycling: ride far, ride free, and respect the places you ride through. Light, honest partnerships that fit our values. We can't wait to tell you what happens next, straight from the track.
Follow the adventure on Instagram →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AHUÑA Bikepacking?
An 800 km self-supported bikepacking crossing of the seven Basque provinces, on both the French and Spanish sides. It is not a race: it is a small-field adventure limited to 50 riders, with a 100-hour time limit.
When is AHUÑA Bikepacking 2027?
The 2027 edition runs from 5 to 9 May 2027. The 50 places are already full.
What gear do you need for bikepacking in the Basque Country?
Bib shorts that stay comfortable over long distances, pockets to keep food within reach, and a layer for wind and rain: Basque drizzle is never far away.
What happens to a jersey dropped at the RELOV collection point?
It is turned into recycled yarn, then into fabric woven in Europe, then into a new RELOV jersey, with no virgin polyester.
Go further
More bikepacking stories on the blog: Velor × Bivouak, bikepacking as an act of freedom, our GRAAALPS collaboration in the Alps, ultra-distance kit that still works after 1,000 km, and the story behind RELOV, our eco-responsible jersey.
