Andalusia Cycling Tour
Riding Days
4
Number of Nights
4
Total Distance
400km
Total Climbing
9,000 metres
Difficulty
3/5
At a Glance
On our Andalusia Cycling Tour, we have devised a spectacular 4-night route (with 3 ride days + 1 warm-up ride) which allows you to tackle some of the most attractive roads of this part of Spain.
Your Andalusia Cycling Tour will give you a sense of journey by moving from place to place but optimising the journey with some consecutive nights in the same hotel. This allows you the chance to relax without having to pack and unpack every day by moving locations.
Your trip will be entirely based in the Andalusia region of southern Spain. The popular image of Spain as a land of bullfights, flamenco, sherry and whitewashed villages derives from Andalusia, the southernmost territory and the most quintessentially Spanish part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Above all, it’s the great Moorish monuments that compete for your attention here. The Moors, a mixed race of Berbers and Arabs who crossed into Spain from Morocco and North Africa, occupied Al-Andalus for over seven centuries.
Marbella is your first base before riding into the mountains to the beautiful town of Ronda. With Marbella sitting on the famous Costa del Sol, you can take in magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea and soak up some late-season sun.
The town of Ronda sits up in the heart of the Serrania de Ronda hills perched on the El Tajo gorge with striking views from the famous Porto Nuovo Bridge down to the valley floor below.
Cycling is just as impressive as the whitewashed hilltop towns. You will be winding you up a way around the deserted hilltop villages on the pristine tarmac before perfect twisting descents between orange orchards pausing for a Boccadillo and Café Cortado along the way.
Tour Highlights
Book Tour
€1,300.00 – €2,550.00
Overview
Andalusia Raid - the region and challenges
Andalusia region isn’t the first that comes to mind when you put cycling and Spain together. The Vuelta Espana has rarely if ever, come here. It lacks the high peaks of the nearby Sierra Nevada or the green forests of the country’s more northerly provinces. The geological history of volcanic activity has given the region a jagged and undulating rocky terrain, both beautiful and menacing.
Being at the very southern tip of Spain, the area boasts a climate that sees 320 days of sun and temperatures in the high 30s even in early spring. Added to that, the roads (away from the coast) remain clear of any kind of traffic. They should be a magnet for cyclists, yet there are none to be seen.
In professional cycling, the region has been known for the Ruta del Sol, a traditional early season stage race where professional riders are more concerned with escaping the harsh climates of Northern Europe and opt for a ‘friendly’ race basking in the sunshine of the Spanish Costa del Sol.
Marbella - Puerto Banus
Seen by some as the St Tropez of southern Spain, Marbella is a bustling Spanish town with historical sites and easy access to the sunny beaches of the Costa del Sol. Exploring Marbella’s old town, you will notice ancient cathedrals and buildings with orange trees and squares nestled amongst more modern shopping areas.
Going from the old town to the beach, you will walk down the Avenida del Mar where 10 Salvador Dalí sculptures are displayed in the open air and towards La Alameda Park which is lined by traditional Andalucian painted tiles.
Connected to Marbella by what is known as ‘The Golden Mile’, Puerto Banus is the town’s even more upscale neighbour, known for its sports cars, superyachts and high-end boutiques. The port was opened in 1970 to attract luxury clientele, with the likes of Grace Kelly, Julio Inglesias and Hugh Hefner attending the opening ceremony. However, with outstanding views of the Mediterranean to the south and mountains to the north, the flashy cars and yachts pale in comparison.
Historical town - Ronda
The dramatic setting and rich history of the small town of Ronda has made it a must-see in the region. The town itself sits on a cliff edge overlooking the El Tajo gorge, with the imposing Puente Nuevo (‘New Bridge’) providing stunning views. Ronda’s impressive geographical setting is matched by its ancient architecture, with some of its surviving buildings dating back to as early as the 9th century when the Berbers occupied the town.
While you will be cycling in the region, the town’s most well-known sport is bull-fighting, the modern version of which was all but invented here. In the 1700s, Francisco Romero was reportedly the first torrero to use a cape and muleta sword during this bloody and controversial sport, with his son and grandsons continuing his bull-fighting legacy well into the 1800s. The Plaza de Toros (Bullring) in Ronda is one of the oldest in Spain.
Ronda also has a number of excellent wineries nearby and a host of lovely restaurants serving typical Andalusian dishes, tapas and international cuisine. The town is a popular destination for tourists due to its historical significance and gorgeous setting, but you will be here as the town enters a quieter period, allowing you to enjoy a more tranquil visit.
Climate
As always, it’s a good idea to pack light rain gear just in case. A gilet and arm warmers should suffice to keep you warm on the descents if temperatures are on the cooler side.
Gearing
Although the gradients are generally not steep you can get some short steep pitches on some of the smaller roads, a compact chainset (offering gearing of 34-50) with a 30 or 32 lowest gear on the cassette is recommended.
Details
What's Included
*Meals are included up to a specific budget after which a supplement will be applied
What's not Included
Itinerary
Your La Fuga guides will meet you at Malaga (Costa del Sol) Airport and take you to your hotel in Marbella – this drive will be around 45 minutes.
Here we will help you check-in and our mechanic will build your bike, making sure it is ready for the journey to follow. Depending on arrival time you should have time to test the legs out with a loosener.
You’ll eat in the hotel this evening at one of the many restaurants and your tour manager will give you a briefing of the days of riding to follow.
The first day of riding starts with a short van ride to the start point in Estepona. Unfortunately, the Costa del Sol is not designed for cyclists and it’s quite dangerous to ride along the coastal area.
From the Estepona start, the ride goes uphill pretty rapidly. After some initial steep pitches, the climb settles down quite quickly into a steady gradient as you watch the shimmering Mediterranean disappear behind you.
The first climb starts as soon as you leave the waters of the Med and head up the 16km long Puerto de Penas Blancas. This is a stunning climb offering glimpses down to the coast below as you climb steadily up to 1000metres above the sea. The road is quiet and devoid of road markings on the pristine tarmac. Any fatigue from the climb will soon leave your legs when you start the descent into Jubrique; twisting sweeping turns allow you to get into a nice rhythm as you swoop down the hillside.
You’re into the Serrania de Ronda Mountains now and will be relaxing into smooth, isolated roads. You’ll be riding through some small idyllic whitewashed towns with pretty much all of them having some communal ‘Bullfighting ring’ given the popularity of the sport. They give ample possibilities for coffee stops to rest your legs.
You arrive in Ronda with a short climb into the town and then can relax overlooking the mountains with a col drink. You’ll eat out in the town this evening.
The longest day with the most climbing awaits you today as you head further into the Sierra Ubrique and Sierra Margarita. Today you have two amazing climbs on the route interspersed with typical Andalusian hilltop white villages which litter the hillsides in this mountain range.
You’ll start by riding across the top of the ridge from Ronda before you take the road to Grazalema, a superb white hill town where you may like to stop for a coffee. The road takes you up 5km through the Puerto del Boyar. We’ll descend to the Prado del Rey where we’ll have some lunch and soak in the atmosphere of this beautiful village. The afternoon holds a stunning climb of the Puerto de las Palomas a 13km climb through the rocky mountain terrain before we head back to Ronda for a celebratory drink.
For our last evening in Ronda, we’ll eat out in the town in a local restaurant and maybe take in some Flamenco if you would really like to see the local culture.
You’ll return to Marbella on today’s route but via the quietest roads in the area. The route heads deep into the Serrania de Ronda taking in undulating climbs that can vary between undulating roads for several kilometres and climbs up to 12km long but never really taxing you above double digits with steady gradients and beautiful rocky views.
You’ll pass some isolated white villages such as Alpandeire and Igualeia where you can stop for coffee or just shade from the sun the town square as you refuel on a boccadillo.
You’ll head back towards the coast as the roads get busier but fortunately all downhill to Marbella where the sleepy white villages will be left behind and the glitz and glamour of the Costa del Sol returns.
For the final evening, we will have a special celebratory meal at the hotel and toast an excellent few days of riding.
Sit back and relax taking in the late summer sun as you have your last breakfast of the trip overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean.
Your guides will pack up your bikes ahead of the journey back to Malaga airport and your flight home.
Accommodation
Hotels may be subject to change from time to time due to availability.
Andalusia Cycling Tour
