Cycling locations in Spain for the almost-pro-cyclist

Cycling under the sun

Spain is a beautiful setting for the three-week Vuelta a España—so much so it makes us jealous to watch the landscape on TV. It’s abundant with nature, full of rocks and sand, hills and plains, green trees and barren fields… it never gets boring. The climate and landscape make Spain appealing for all levels of cyclists, and the country delivers near-perfect weather conditions in both spring and autumn. So, we have highlighted below five beautiful cycling locations for a private Vuelta Light.

Live like a pro in Girona

Girona is known for its historic city centre, which has been used for scenes in the Game of Thrones TV series. Among cyclists, however, the city is best known for its great location: positioned about 100 kilometres to the north of Barcelona, both the flat east coast and the foothills of the Pyrenees are within cycling distance. Girona also has a large airport, and all this, combined with the Spanish climate, makes the city an ideal base for many professionals. In addition to Robert Gesink and Steven Kruijswijk, there are an estimated 50 other professional cyclists in the area.

After your training session, there is plenty to do in the city centre. For those who want to experience real Spanish life there is no shortage of tapas and coffee bars to choose from.

Winter training on Mallorca

Not every cyclist lives in a very geographically-diverse environment. Therefore, many teams and pro riders head down to Mallorca for a winter training camp. With a mountain ridge on the north coast of the island, Mallorca offers the diversity and challenge for an ideal training week. The southern section of the island also has a temperate climate due to the surrounding Mediterranean sea, and is quite a few degrees warmer than we are used to here in the Netherlands.

Mallorca is such a popular cycling destination that you don’t even have to bring your own race bike. There are enough locations that rent them in town, and offer models in all different classes. But it is wise to reserve well in advance as there are many people who go for this convenience.

The Pyrenees

A Tour of Spain is nothing without real climbs. You’ll find these in the Pyrenees. This mountainous area is located on the border with France, and there are few routes for the climbing-phobic. Trust us: the Pyrenees is a place for real mountain goats. Although the average gradient may be lower than that of certain climbs in the Alps, the roads to the summits of the Pyrenees are a lot longer. And don’t get fooled by the average gradients either: there are always steep sections. And, at the end, there is nothing more beautiful than getting the top of these peaks; a reward that will make you forget all the pain of climbing in one fell swoop.

The Angliru

The world famous (and feared) Angliru is just west of the Pyrenees. The 12.5-kilometre-long climb has an average incline percentage of 10.1%. Because the first half of the climb only rises by 7.6%, the second part is particularly hard: its steepest section is 23.6%! This is no mountain for an untrained cyclist. If you want great weather, though, don’t go to the Asturias, as this region is called. The cool, maritime climate ensures that temperatures change very little, even in the summer. In the winter, people are not surprised by snowfall, and it rains in the summer. The cycling season in this area is therefore similar to that in the Netherlands.

Sierra Nevada

Andalusia is a well known area in the south of Spain. Major cities such as Seville and Málaga are located here. The area is full of culture, sun and terraces brimming with tourists. The Sierra Nevada is located here too, and it is a well-known region for altitude training. It has a road that runs just below the top of the famous Pico Veleta (the third-highest mountain in Spain) and here you can cycle up to 3,400 meters above sea level. Which is really high! Unless you are on the top in the C.A.R. (centre for altitude training), you will still have to descend the 41-kilometre-long road to the valley. This is a great reward after your effort. The length of the climb makes it a huge challenge, though, and at such heights the oxygen content in the air is also much lower. So be careful and know what you’re getting yourself into…