Perhaps known more for its gorgeous beaches and bustling
cities, Spain holidays are great for a number of reasons, though many people
may overlook the country when considering cycling breaks. However, there are
some fantastic cycle routes throughout the country that are well worth checking
out if you’re a keen cyclist considering where to take your next break.
The Vuelta a España is the last of the professional Grand
Tours and usually takes place towards the end of August, following the Tour de
France and the Giro d’Italia. While it is perhaps considered to be the least
important of the tours, it still attracts some world class cyclists and highlights
the amazing cycling culture in Spain. If you fancy riding where the
professionals race or merely want to learn more about the sights that it takes
in, here is a brief guide to the route.
Split into four sections, the Vuelta begins in Galicia, a
stunning city that boasts some incredible Baroque architecture. It’s a
wonderful place to explore by bike, with many wending streets and alleys to
navigate down, where you can get a real feel for life in the area. From here
the bikers will move onto Extremadura which has a fine selection of paradors –
luxury hotels built into historical buildings. Splashing out to stay at some of
these exquisite hotels is absolutely worth it if you’re hoping for a really
special holiday. You can find some fantastic deals online if you’re willing to
look.
Heading south, the cyclists end up in Andalusia. Along the
way you can visit the Alhambra palace at Granada and see Jerez where the annual
flamenco festival takes place. You’ll be surrounded by stunning mountain
vistas, crystal clear lakes and quaint houses nestled among the beautiful
scenery. For more experienced cyclists, there are intense tours of this area
available, visiting the castles of Andalusia – a fantastic idea if you’re
interested in the history of the place.
Onto Catalonia where you can experience Barcelona in all its
glory before you head toward the Pyrenees. If you’re up to it, you can cycle
some of the daunting yet beautiful peaks, including the Coll d’Ordino (1,980m)
and the Puerto de la Bonaigua (2,090m). Bear in mind though that these routes
will be extremely strenuous, so only attempt them if you are confident of your
abilities.
Riders then stream down to Asturias,
which boasts some of the finest cuisine in Spain. You may like to take a break
from cycling here and hike across the Picos de Europa mountain range. The final
segment of the Vuelta will no doubt push even the most experienced
professionals to their limit with a 1,266m ascent in just 12.5km, which
probably isn’t advisable if you’ve just spent a week cycling through the
Spanish countryside!
However you choose to see it, Spain by bike will make for a fantastic holiday with innumerable wonderful memories.
However you choose to see it, Spain by bike will make for a fantastic holiday with innumerable wonderful memories.
Tim
Morton is a keen amateur cyclist and travel blogger
Image by Phranet (Preview) and Bert Kaufmann (Preview) used under creative commons licence
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spain :) viva espanya!
ReplyDeletela viva Kulapitot whahaha
DeleteI first thought, it 'moron. My bad. I like your blog, by the way. I have not been a 'tourist' in my own country when I was there. I deeply regret it.
ReplyDeleteThank you much for this nice information i want to see the beauty of this Spanish country but due to budget reason i am not able to afford the traveling expenses but now i must plan to go their and cycling is an easy way to see detail and beauty of every part of this country thanks for giving me detail of this cycling route of Spain to view this grand country....
ReplyDelete