HI all,
What in oyour opinion is the best cycling destination (most bang per buck) to have access to the classic climbs?
Dolomites?
French Alps?
French Pyrenees?
Spanish Islands/mainland?
thanks
J
Great little route that one... You could extend it by going to Sineu and having a bit of fun on the outdoor velodrome at the southern end of the village (free entry and there used be a nice coffee shop on site.
I never stayed in Inca but I've been to Mallorca 3 or 4 times; unusually enough for a European destination it has a lot of boreen type roads, they call them Cami.
They typically given access to the vineyards, olive groves etc. Some really lovely old houses, old walls etc.
If I was in Inca I'd definitely go ride something like this; you have a lot of choice, just need to plot and be able to navigate or better still go and get lost
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40868756
flatland expert me,lads in group did this April this year and i had a rest day (wrecked already so coffee stop spin) still regretting not doing it! next spring!!!
I've read that before - we'll head out early alright. We're actually staying in Inca this time (only previously stayed in Port de Pollenca) meaning that the cycle to Sa Calobra is relatively short (but very lumpy). I've ridden that climb from Selva to Lluc before too and loved it even if my legs said otherwise after 3 days of Mallorcan cycling! The coffee shop at the top too does incredible cake, I can still remember the Dime bar cake from last time I was there 😁
Yes we did that one last time and it was spectacular!
The Ma-10 from Andrax to Pollenca is a fabulous route!
Get a bus from Pollenca in the morning and cycle back. take in Sa Colabra if you have the energy! :)
https://www.mallorcacycleshuttle.co.uk/andratx-back-to-pollenca-alcudia-canpicafort.html
Think earlier in the day is a better time to climb Sa Colabra - it gets busy with coaches later in the day.
Also, if you are staying in the east of the Island the traditional route into the mountains is via the Ma-10 from Pollenca (old town). An alternative route is to ride out the Ma-2200 and turn off at Cami Vell De Pollenca which is a much quieter road. Follow the road to Campanet, then Selva where there is a lovely (mostly shaded) climb up to Luc and from there you can head East or West depending on which climb you want to do.
Aviles.
I'd overlooked the likes of Mallorca & Girona as the OP had mentioned classic climbs. Having championed Bormio earlier in the thread and cycled there in July, I'm actually heading back to Mallorca in 2 weeks time! I didn't get to Sa Calobra last time so that will be top priority this time 🙂
super stuff guys!
keep the info coming!!!
Great thread OP.
Have never done any cycling on the continent and only just started discussing the possibility with people this summer. So will be filing this one away. Thanks to all for sharing locations.
Majorca anyone?
Climbs are not as "Iconic" as the Alps/Pyrennes , but the whole Island is a cycling Mecca!
The cycle out the Formentor Lighthouse is a must. Sa Colabra (aka Col De Reis), Puig Major, Col de Soller, Col de sa Batalla, Col de Femenia, San Salvador....the list is endless
Bormio is the best cycling base I have found, despite the 2.5 hours from Bergamo. Mr. S has described it very well. Beautiful mountain town that is a bit more Swiss than other Italian towns.
The classic climbs are very long and altitude kicks in on several of them.
If you travel that far, you must climb. From Bormio you can't avoid it anyway. Often the nicest climbs are like Cancano, Fumero, Bormio 2000 all of which are 8-10km and less than half the distance of the beasts.
Last weekend the authorities closed the roads to cars on Mortirolo on Thursday, Gavia on Friday and the Stelvio on Saturday. It was expected almost 10,000 brave souls would attempt Stelvio on the day.
You can also drop into Switzerland and do the Umbrail (a real pig) and lots of other passes.
for the non climbers you can't really go wrong anywhere from Faro to Barcelona along the coast. Lots of airports to start and finish from (Barcelona X 2, Valencia, Alicante, Almeria, Seville, Malaga, Faro) Or simply fly in and out of the same one and plan local routes. We tend to go point to point. Heading to do Valencia to Malaga this Saturday for a week. And Barcelona to Malaga 21st Oct for 10 days. Although we have done combinations of routes along this coast a few times you can nearly always manage to stay somewhere new each time. Weather is good late into the year and accommodation is plentiful. As someone pointed out the roads in Andalucia are mainly quiet as the Spanish have built plenty of parallel motorways but still seem to be maintaining the old N roads so they are excellent to cycle on.
Oh yeah. Great spot for cycling. Lots of climbing. Try the route up to pico de las nieves. Free motion bike hire beside you. Book early before travelling
Has anybody based themselves in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria for a cycling holiday? I'm off with the wife so I can't really push too hard towards somewhere that doesn't cover her bases also. Las Palmas suits for non cycling activities so hoping its not too bad to get out of the city and into the hills.
I’ve only ever done Tenerife in November but I’d go back in a heart beat. Good weather, cheap flights, cheap accommodation and cheap bike hire. Great climbs in Masca and Teide. Not to mention very courteous drivers, which is always a bonus.
The photographer at the top takes more photos of motorbikes & flash cars than cyclists 😄
I'm pretty sure we flew to Santander the last time I was there.
Another thing to keep in mind is some of the classic climbs can look great on a GT but when you get to ride them they can be quite busy with traffic
Some climbs can be busy traffic wise but, if you're into car porn, it can be an added advantage. On the Stelvio for example, every second car and almost every motorcycle is pure class.
I'm half tempted for Austarias myself, where do you fly to?
I'm currently in Brittany touring roads are great both from a surface and traffic point of view while there may be no "Hollywood" climbs here there are plenty of tough efforts in the 10 to 15% range which go on for a few kms
Thread has made me take the plunge. Asturias booked for 5 days early next month.
Angliru baby, here I come again 🙂
I thought the Cirque de Troumousse was a savage cycle, and had never even heard of it. Just saw a road sign....
Not Treviso, where rental road bikes are in short supply. But it's a good airport to use, and a nice town. Canazei might be your best best, for the Sellas. Merano is a suprisingly nice town (Stelvio et al). Cortina is bang in the Dollies, but a bit resorty. Lucca is often touted as the Italian Girona, and is pretty nice. No seriousl alpine/Dollies climbs nearby, though (any more than Girona is near the Tourmalet!).
Bormio is a great little town - although I'm biased as I have in-laws living there and have spent a lot of time there as a result. Old narrow streets, lovely coffee shops & restaurants, incredible scenery in every direction.
There are 3 bike rental shops I think and I was able to walk in the day before each of my 3 cycles there in July and hire a bike with no reservation.
It's at the foot of both the Gavia & Stelvio passes and maybe 5-10km from the foot of the Lago di Cancano climb I mentioned earlier in the thread. The guide below captures it really well.
2 possible drawbacks to note - it's around a 2 1/2 hour drive from Bergamo airport or public transport involves bus, 2 trains and another bus. And there's no real option for an easier cycling day if you want one, it's hills hills hills!
edit...some very good advice from LBSG in the post above mine. Stelvio for example gets very busy with motor traffic at times. Both times I've done it I've headed up around 7am and it's been absolutely fine.
Vercors is a brilliant place to ride a bike, I'd love to go back.
Col de la machine is a favourite
That said there is more to a cycling destination than just nice quite roads with great scenery.
It's a personal thing on what else you need
*good food/drink
*lively town
*ease of getting there
*bike hire/bike shops
*alternative activities for you or family
For example when I went cycling in Pyrenees Saint Savin was a great base for cycling, but jesus was it quite.
Another thing to keep in mind is some of the classic climbs can look great on a GT but when you get to ride them they can be quite busy with traffic. A bit of research on the less well known and maybe nicer climbs could make for a better trip. That's certainly the case when I visited the Pyrenees.
Re the access to areas, flights to Santander from Dublin are running about €30-40 each way from October 1st. In the immediate Santander area you have the Basque country less than an hour drive east or the Picos de Europa and the rest of the Cantabrian mountains, choc full of climbs from the Vuelta, starting half an hour west. I usually bring my own bike but there are bike hire shops in Llanes, Ribadasella and Cangas di Onis, probably more in Gijon and Oviedo
Never been to this part of the worlkd but this article makes it look beautiful.
Andalucia is a good destination. I've gone twice. The roads are perfect and there's plenty of climbing routes.
