vuelta
classics
mountainous valencia
Valencia is the second most mountainous region in Spain playing host to many of the decisive stages for La Vuelta a España and Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, two of the oldest and most prestigious stage races in professional cycling. The roll call of winners, from past champions Van Looy, Merckx, Hinault and Roche, to the modern greats Contador, Quintana and Valverde, have all triumphed on the slopes of the toughest mountains the region has to offer.
classic climbs
Our most challenging week takes you to the classic climbs, through stunning National Parks and valleys, and hidden villages and historic towns, from our countryside base located in the most beautiful corner of Valencia and Alicante
We can tailor all of our supported bike weeks to your chosen level of difficulty. This weeks focus is shifted towards the climbs and the longer rides.
who is it for?
This trip is all about the climbs.
There are several big days on the bike, multiple mountains and longer rides.
Best suited to fitter and more experienced riders.
You can regularly complete rides of 60 to 80km at a good pace.
how hard is it?
Difficulty: hard
Daily distance: 110 km
Total distance: 536 km
Daily climbing: 2200 m
Total climbing: 11,000 m
Minimum group size: 4
Maximum group size: 8
highlights
Serra Mariola
Font Roja
Serra del Maigmo
Xorret del Cati
Port de Tudons
Puerto de la Carresqueta
Port de Benifallim
Port del Moro
Reconco
La Cantera
Alto del Portillol
Alto de Teix
Port Bocairent
Cumbres de Valencia
dates & prices
2019-2020 Season
Availability from £745
*B&B Only From £55
Per Person Per Night
trip overview
Summary of the weeks riding, daily distances and climbing. Rides extensions available to add more mountains, typically 10-40km and 500-1000m.
Day 01 arrival day & welcome reception
Day 02 wine county - 100 km 2000m
Day 03 port de tudons - 120 km 2100m
Day 04 rest day, ride or sightseeing
Day 05 xorret del Cati - 125 km 2500m
Day 06 font Roja - 85 km 1900m
Day 07 la carresqueta - 126 km 2500m
Day 08 depart
The itinerary is indicative of the planned week, it may be adapted according to your arrival and departure flights, local conditions, and to the level of the group - enabling riders to get the best out of their week.
day 01: arrival
One of the escapar team will meet you on arrival at the airport and transport you directly to the retreat.
If you are arriving on an early flight and wish to ride after assembling your bike or fitting of our hire bike, we recommend an easy rolling route towards Fontanars del Alforins as the perfect introduction to inland Valencia. Heading straight from the Finca, pristine tarmac immediately takes you onto on beautifully scenic and traffic free country roads, where you'll pass by vineyards, bodegas and castles, with views of the Serra Mariola to your left and Serra Grossa to your right. It's locally known for good reason as the 'Tuscany of Valencia'. We have many other routes to choose from, if you want something more challenging.
day 02: wine country
We roll out from the Finca and drop down to briefly follow the Clariano (Ontinyent) river taking us towards Ontinyent, where it's a short sharp climb backup to cross the stunning Santa Maria bridge and onto the mountains of the Serra Grossa. Our first big climb of the week takes up the Port de Portitxol, with stunning views of the Vall D'Albaida, Serra Grossa and Costera plains, matched by a spectacular descent, down through the gorge into Mogente and the nearby El Pobalado Ibero de La Bastida de les Alcusses, a 4th century BC Iberian city of major importance. We're quickly climbing Cumbres de Valencia towards Navalon, where we're spoiled with fantastic views of lush green valleys, vineyards and crops furnished with plentiful ground water and scenery typical of Tuscany not arid southern Spain. We descend the Torre Tallada and make our way through the pretty market town of Font de la Figuera to Fontanars del Alforins, from where we can choose the longer route back to Ontinyent, over the Port del Moro and our first 1000m climb or take the beautiful valley descent back to the foot of final climb of the day, the Ermita de Sant Esteve. Having only been recently paved, it's not as well known as other climbs but that will change as soon as the Volta or Vuelta choose to use it for a summit finish. From the junction it appears as a relatively benign 4.5km and 7.5%. However, with a 3km section averaging 10% of which 800m is over 13%, it is not to be taken lightly. The rewards are worth the effort though, as the panoramic views from the Hermitage are simply unparalleled and it's a perfect way to end the first day before we roll downhill back to the Finca.
day 03: port de tudons
We follow the rolling country side roads around the Serra Mariola National park, heading eastwards to the Sierra de Aitana, through the Alcoià comarca and the small town of Penàguila, from where we'll climb Port de Tudons. It's perhaps one of the most famous climbs in the region, having regularly featured in La Vuelta and the Volta, but is beyond reach for many cycling from Denia and is therefore better served from Alcoy, Calpe and La Nucia. If open, the extended summit finish of Alto de Aitana, used in 2009 (Stage 8) and 2016 (Stage 20) is the highest in the whole region at 1558m and offers even more spectacular views of the Costa Blanca. It's an active military base and normally closed off to the public, but does open if the race visits. We return via the rolling roads that enclose the Serra Mariola, through Agres and Muro de Alcoy.
day 04: rest day
On the rest day you can choose to put your feet up and relax at the Finca, go sight seeing, walking or perhaps a gentle spin to a Bodega.
We recommend and can arrange the following:
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Day in Xativa and trip to Xativa Castle
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Day trip to Valencia
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Local walk to Pou Clar or Bocairent
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Sighting, shopping and Menu del Dia in Ontinyent
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Train ride through the Serra Mariola to Alcoy
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Wine testing Bodega visit and trip to Villena
day 05: xorret del cati
We take the stunning country roads towards Fonatanars del Alforins before turning south and heading uphill over the Port del Moro and down into Beneixama. When it's hot there's welcome shade through much of the climb and the 1000m altitude can offer respite from the heat. We head towards to the Sierra de la Fontanella mountains, where there is an optional ascent of the Reconco as a continuation of the Puerto de Biar taking us to 1210m and more spectacular vistas. The star of today's show is the Xorret de Cati, probably the most famous climb in the region. It's not reachable from Denia and Calpe so most visitors will only have seen it in La Vuelta. It is popular with cyclists from Alicante and as the climb is set in the beautifully green Serra del Maigmo National Park, it provides a stark contrast to the arid scenery to the south. We return via the Puerto de Onil another Volta regular and ancient Banyeres de Mariola, the highest town of the Sierra Mariola before the descent back to Ontinyent through vibrant Spring time fields of colour, where cherries, sunflowers, oranges, olives and almonds are grown.
day 06: font roja
A day of stunning riding in and around the Serra Mariola National Park. We climb out of Ontinyent over the Port Bocairent and head towards the Port de Mariola. The riding and scenery is different from that you might have experienced nearer the coast, the land and colours and more vibrant, the fields greener and the mountain tops snowcapped in winter. We pass ancient Alcoy, a spectacular dmll city of more than 30 bridges and from here we have the choice to add two optional climbs. Neither are long, but both are a significant challenge. Valverde sealed the overall win, passing and dropping Simon Yates in the 2018 Volta on the final slopes of La Cantera.
Font Roja provides the highlight of the day, a climb in its own National Park that also affords wonderful views of the Serra Mariola opposite.
day 07: la carresqueta
We finish our week in style with two of the most iconic climbs in the Valencia region. The Carresqueta is well known and has been used many times in La Vuelta and La Volta. It's reached heading south from Alcoy and is a wide safe road, despite there being a little traffic as you leave Alcoy. The views from the summit are amongst the most fantastic in the whole region and the descent to Xixona, home of Turron, can be taken safely at high speed for skilled riders. Our final leg home via Torremanzanas and Benifallim is one of our favourites and a fitting end to the week, as the Port de Benifallim in particular can make a claim as the most picturesque in the whole region.
what is included?
7 nights accommodation
scheduled airport transfers
daily room cleaning service
cycling kit wash
swimming pool and towels
Wifi
the riding
5 days guided cycling
support vehicle
mechanical assistance
secure bike storage
comprehensive route guides
GPX route map files
organisation of rest day trips
food & drink
welcome reception
continental breakfast
coffee & soft drinks
oost-ride refuel
restaurant bookings
restaurant transport
not included
flights
travel insurance
road side lunches
cost of evening meals
hire bike insurance