Calpe & Costa Blanca

We will be available to collect you mid-morning from Valencia Airport. From here there will be a 1hr 15min transfer south to Calpe in the Alicante province. Calpe is one of those coastal towns that cyclists from all over the world love. Many pro cycling teams train every year in Calpe and it is not uncommon to see some of the world’s best out on the same roads as you. We propose a warm-up route which takes on the ‘Cumbre del Sol’ climb, a 4km burst which takes you from sea level to 400m elevation in a flash!

Distance: 45km / Meals: Dinner Included / Sleep: Calpe

Coll de Rates is without doubt one of the most popular cycling climbs amongst the professional peloton. Only a short warm-up ride out of Calpe and you too will find yourself at the base of this emblematic ‘puerto’ (climb). While it is not an overly difficult climb it gains its prestige from its numerous switchbacks, excellent asphalt condition and its gradual build-up which allows for an all-out finish! The 6km climb averages 6% and the fastest of the fast record 15 minutes. Looking for a challenge against the pro’s then today will be your day? It is a longer 120km ride today but these short gradual climbs with frequent descents will make for an excellent day on the bikes!

Distance: 120km/ Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Calpe

To continue this magnificent series of training climbs, we would like to introduce you to “Vall d’Ebo”. This climb is a jewel of the Alicante region, as its 8km provide a dynamic and pleasant route. After an initial 35km ride from the hotel, the climb begins. Starting among the trees, the climb opens up near the top, where the views of the coast become your great reward. A series of wide winding curves will see you gain 500m of elevation. After a 3km descent, we would like to welcome you to “Alto de Tarrenyes”. Another short climb (4km with an average gradient of 5%) that will by now start to feel like a false flat. We like to call today our ‘Calpe Lollipop route’, as the first and last 20km follow the same road in and out of town. 

Distance: 90km / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included / Sleep: Calpe

After a few days building into the tour, today we reduce the kilometres a little, but the elevation gain remains. We need to remember that the tour finishes with some ‘heavy’ climbing on Days 5 and 6! As the ride enters the outskirts of Altea there is the chance to test yourself on and out-and-and wall. The 5km climb going by the name ‘Port de Bernia’ rises a whopping 600m. You can do the maths if you want to! Feel free to sit this one out as the support van is there to help. While it is short, it is often best to break the ‘Port de Bernia’ climb into two parts; (i) the first part which includes some steep ramps but some places also to recover, and (ii) the final 3.5km which never drop below 15%. This climb was asphalted in 2019 and became an instant hit being used in the ‘Volta a Valenciana’ pro race the following year!

Distance: 70km / Meals: Breakfast  Included / Sleep: Altea

The route on offer today is a favourite for the local cyclists who live between inland Alcoy and coastal Benidorm. Get ready to be acquainted with ‘Confrides’. Another climb back into the realms of cycling enthusiasts of all levels. Measuring 7.5km and 5% the climb to Confrides will be a slight relief from yesterday’s ‘infierno’ finish. The summit nearly reaches 1000m elevation and you are never too far away from more eye watering Mediterranean views.

Note: The October 2025 guided tour will today take advantage of the international criterium pro race which is held as part of the ‘Gran Fondo La Nucia’ weekend of events. During 2024 there were 20 Spanish and international pro cyclists on the Costa Blanca to compete in this end of season race!

Distance: 105km / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Altea

The best for last – ‘Port de Tudons’! This morning there will be a 20min van transfer to the outskirts of Benidorm. Here we have a special ride in-store which includes two different ascents of ‘Tudons’. Many local road cyclists from Alicante would rate this as their favourite climb. A constant 20km climb which rises from sea-level to 1026m elevation (5% average grade). At the ‘Tudons’ signboard one encounters the Aitana military base turn-off. This is restricted access, but in the distance the antennas are visible. A total of four incredible Vuelta a España pro race finishes have been battled-out up to the restricted Aitana military base (2001, 2004, 2019 and 2016). During 2016 Nairo Quintana secured his La Vuelta win on the Aitana climb after a shoot-out with Chris Froome.

Note: The October 2025 guided tour will today take advantage of the second edition of the ‘Gran Fondo La Nucia’. On 19 October 2025 amateur riders can choose between (i) 77km & 1653m elevation gain or (ii) 170km & 3556m elevation gain.

Distance: Min. 90km / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included / Sleep: Altea

The Sierra guides will return you to Valencia Airport following breakfast. We expect to have you at the airport by 11:00am so please keep that in mind when booking any onwards flights. Thanks for joining us on the Costa Blanca – we hope to see you again soon!

Meals: Breakfast included