CALPE AND THE COSTA BLANCA
Blow off those winter cobwebs in this pro cycling hotspot
Dates
22nd February - 1st March 2025
(Minimum numbers of 10)
Price
£1,295pp
(Single supplement of £35 per night)
Experience level
Aimed at those looking to challenge themselves early season! A good level of fitness is recommended
Calpe, located on the Costa Blanca, offers beautiful scenery, challenging terrain, and a mild climate, making it an ideal destination for cycling enthusiasts. Its smooth, quiet roads along with the near all-year-round sunshine (up to 300 days per year) have made it a popular destination for professional cycling teams who often use the area for training camps in the winter. It's not uncommon for a group of professional cyclists to come past you and say hello! It is also regularly featured in the Vuelta a Espana, meaning you'll have the opportunity to try out some of those climbs you've seen for yourselves.
Being situated in mainland Spain, Calpe offers endless cycling routes to suit different levels of fitness and expertise. The scenery here is fantastic with a plethora of mountains to challenge yourself on, and miles of coastline to enjoy. One of the most iconic climbs in the area is the Coll de Rates, which everyone from pro cyclists to novices undertake when in Costa Blanca, however there are many more which we would argue are more stunning although not as well known.
Outside of the cycling, Calpe offers two sandy beaches, along with numerous bars and restaurants, so there's plenty to keep you entertained off the bike.
This camp is aimed at those of you looking to get some early season miles under your belts -maybe you're prepping to race, have a key event you're aiming for (this trip is ideal preparation for the Mallorca 312), or just want to challenge yourself in more sunnier climes. We'll take you on an exploration of this superb cycling destination, with tried and tested routes, great cafes and our experienced team to support you.
We've included an overview of our itinerary below, but please feel free to get in touch with any questions.
Day 1: Arrival and orientation
We'll transfer you from Alicante airport to our base in Calpe and give you some time to settle in and rebuild bikes.
Time permitting we'll head out for a short warm up ride along the Calpe coastline to test out your bikes and prepare you for the week ahead.
Day 2: Guadalest (80km, 1,400m)
This ride heads out south from Calpe through the tunnels and the town of Altea before heading inland and onto Castell de Guadalest. This is a popular tourist attraction which was an ancient defensive system of the Muslim population.
We'll have a quick coffee here, before continuing onto the stunning Guadalest reservoir - you'll have plenty of opportunities to drink in the views and take photos here as we ride around the entire length of it before heading back to base.
Day 3: Bernia Ridge and the Col de Rates (86km, 1,700m)
Today is a tough day in the saddle as we take on two big iconic climbs. As we leave Calpe the road gradually ramps up all the way to the top of the Bernia ridge at 620m, with sections well into double-digit percent gradients!
After a lovely descent and a coffee at the Velosol Cycling Bar, we'll take on the famous Coll de Rates - the most renowned climb in the region. For those brave souls who feel they have not had enough climbing, there will be an opportunity to do the secret summit which continues at the top!
Day 4: Xabia recovery day (65km, 800m)
Today we'll head out to the Eastern coast line to the Town of Xabia for cake and coffee! Designed to give the legs a bit of a rest (although we still have to get out of Calpe!) before bigger days ahead!
Day 5: Tudons (125km, 2,200m)
This is the biggest day of the tour and one that will remain in your memories!
We'll head south out of Calpe along the coast through Altea before turning inland where you'll start the 16km climb up to the Tudons - the highest point in the area at 1,025m.
After a brief stop in Benasau for the best Tostada and coffee, we continue along the mountain range with plenty of twists and turns plus a few cheeky short, sharp climbs. You will then embark on a superb 20km descent which although not steep, seems to go on forever!
Day 6: The Caves with Vall d’ebo descent (113km, 1,500m)
This route goes through a barren mountain pass, where you will see caves carved into the rock as we wind up and around the narrow but quiet road. This section of the route takes you to the top of Vall d’ebo from the southside where you'll be greeted by the most stunning descent in the area -winding down to sea level with views of both the sea and mountains.
After a flat section into Denia, the ride takes on a couple of shorter climbs before joining the coast road back to Calpe
Day 7: Tarbena up to Port Sa Creueta (87km, 1,400m)
Our final ride heads out up to Tarbena again, but instead of descending down the Coll de Rates you'll continue up onto Port Sa Crueta at 780m.
Once you arrive at the village of Castell de Castells, you will be treated to a long, steady but super-fast section of road to Benigembia. To end the ride you'll get another chance to ride the Fustera descent into Calpe to finish the tour.
Package includes:
- 7 nights half board accommodation (including breakfast and dinner) at the four-star premium Suitopia Sol-Y-Mar Suites hotel in Calpe
- Airport transfers to / from Alicante based on group arrival / departure
- Guided rides and seminars from our experienced team
- Your own 'Mellow' Jersey
Not included:
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Tourist tax
- Bike hire (can be arranged at extra cost)
Feel free to contact us with any specific questions or book your place via the link below.
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