Former rugby international Serge Blanco came out narrowly on top in the first round of the municipal elections in Biarritz, edging out incumbent mayor Maider Arosteguy, according to results published on Sunday evening.

In his first run at political office, the France legend (93 caps) polled 26.68% of the vote, against 26.60% for the sitting mayor, a gap of only a few votes in the seaside resort in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

Several other lists remain in a position to stay in the race for the second round, however, which points to a three-way or even four-way contest in a town of around 25,000 inhabitants where the campaign looks wide open.

An emblematic figure of French rugby and of Biarritz Olympique, where he spent his entire playing career before becoming a club executive, Blanco moved into politics at the end of 2025 with the aim of “giving fresh impetus” to his adopted town.