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16 Roads to Ride in 2016

1. The Valley of the Tears (The VOTT) – Gran Canaria
Now this is a tough climb. Rising from near sea level the VOTT climbs for 12.4km at an average of just over 11% and wastes no time in introducing you to gradients well over 20%. After a brief baptism of fire the gradients turn and your legs can enjoy a short descent. The Valley of the Tears well justifies it’s name, however, with three more sections knocking on 25%. Approach with caution.

A popular hangout for the SKY pro cycling team, Gran Canaria sports many tough climbs and reliable early season sun.


Gran Canaria VOTT

2. White Roads of Tuscany – Italy
This isn’t just a list of big climbs to conquer, this is also about beautiful and iconic places to explore. Tuscany is a land of historic beauty; explore it’s famed white roads by bike, discover old wine estates and rejoice in the serene lack of traffic.

And whilst your here participate in the Strade Bianche, the Italian Paris-Roubaix.

White roads of Tuscany

3. Sa Calobra – Mallorca
‘What goes up must come down’, as they say, although in this case it is more of a case of what goes down must come up. As you descend toward the coast you are left in no doubt of the climb to come. Enjoy spectacular views at our Mallorca Cycling Academy as sweeping hairpins lead you down to Sa Calobra and then back up into the mountains.

Sa Calobra

4. The Paterberg – Belgium
Perhaps not the most difficult of the Belgian bergs, it is arguably the most iconic as this is often where decisive moves are made when the pros race the Tour of Flanders. This is a spot La Fuga like to set up camp and watch the pro race from as a result.

Paterberg

5. Arenberg Forest – France
Diving into The Forest of Arenberg at over 60kmph the road descends from smooth tarmac to huge cobbles as the pros race the Paris-Roubaix. This is a road to remember, or a road to forget…

‘Iconic’. ‘Epic’. ‘An absolute adventure’. ’15 minutes of Hell’. Take your pick.

Arenberg Forest

6. Col de la Madone – France
Rising off the Cote d’Azur, this climb has been brought to notoriety as Lance Armstrong’s training climb of choice. With a good chance of catching sight of current pros you too can escape the hustle and bustle of civilization below and rise into the mountains. The reward is a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean far below you.

Train like the pros at our Cote d’Azur Academy.

madone

7. Barbotto – Italy
Fancy a challenge? An absolute beast of a climb averaging 15% for a whole kilometre that features in the 2016 Nove Colli.

This is Pantani’s favourite climb. Enough said.

Barbotto

8. Passo dello Stelvio – Italy
This climb needs no introduction. Situated in the Italian Alps, this is the Stelvio and can be tackled from not two but three separate approaches. Take on the challenge; ride up through the tunnels and around the 48 hairpins that brought Fausto Coppi to fame. Compete amongst your friends and compatriots for the Cima Coppi of your tour – first to the top! See you there!

Stelvio Top happy rider

9. Trollstigen – Norway
Norway has taken off as a cycling destination in a big way. This climb has been described as the Norwiegan Stelvio. A new destination for La Fuga in 2016 this scenery has to be seen to be believed. Off the beaten track. Breathtakingly beautiful. Welcome to the Trollstigen

Trollstigen

10. Côte de Domancy – France
Featuring in stage 18 this will be a highlights of the Tour de France 2016. The Côte de Domancy was brought to fame by Bernard Hinault’s win in the 1980 World Championship.

domancy

11. Alpe d’Huez – France
Another climb that is among the most famous is cycling. Each of the 21 hairpins boast the name(s) of champions that have conquered on this climb at the Tour de France. An icon of the Alps. A bucket list climb. Tick it off your list

Alpe-dHuez-sign

12. Col du Soulor – France
A hidden gem of the Pyrenees. Situated close to the Tourmalet this climb epitomises the spirit of the Pyrenees. Expect to see a lot more wildlife and a lot less traffic: an absolute favourite among La Fuga’s tour guides and one we are very pleased is featuring in the Haute Route Pyrenees in 2016

Solour

13. Cormet de Roselend – France
Rising from Beaufort to Bourg St Maurice, the Roselend is one of the most beautiful climbs of the Alps and is likely to be a highlight for many of the riders taking on the Haute Route Alps in 2016. Cruising past Lac de Roselend, this is a long and winding climb without the brutal gradients. Enjoy a last stop for coffee by the side of the lake before a final kick and then on, further into the heart Alps.

Roselend

14. Passo Giau – Italy
A giant of the Dolomites, save at least half your days reserves for this monster. The last 10kms average a full 10% when approaching from Cortina. This is the sixth and steepest of the climbs featured in the Maratona dles Dolomites, but found lurking in the Haute Route Dolomites too. Not to be underestimated.

Giau

15. Muro de Ca’ del Poggio – Italy
The rolling terrain of the Prosecco hills is a place to kick back and just enjoy cycling. Recommended terrain for a late season jaunt away from high mountains, ride the Gran Fondo Prosecco and take it as hard, or as easy, as you want to take it. The toughest section of the course, the Muro de Ca’ del Poggio is the pinnacle of the Prosecco fields, beautiful and rewarding. Look forward to a grand finale of ice baths full of Prosecco bottles.

Prosecco Cycling 2014_premium 3

16. Colle del Ghisallo – Italy
The Madonna del Ghisallo is a chapel dedicated to cycling, it can be found at the top of the Ghisallo. With both Bartali and Coppi’s bikes amongst others housed there this is a true shrine to cycling. Featured in the Giro di Lombardia, the Colle del Ghisallo itself climbs from the shore of Lake Como and rises in two leg sapping sections, the first of which quickly ramps up above 10% within the first few kilometres, before settling into a ‘steady’ 9%. After a brief let up the final couple of kilometres rise again to 9% before delivering you to the Chapel at the summit, and the end of La Fuga’s top 16 roads to ride in 2016.

madonna-del-ghisallo

January 14, 2016 / No Comments /  1
Win two free places to ride a 2016 European sportive with La Fuga

Win two free places on a 2016 European sportive with La Fuga

Click here for your chance to win

We are offering two free places to ride a 2016 European sportive with full support from the La Fuga team. All you need to do is fill in our survey for a chance to win! Simple as that.

December 9, 2015 / No Comments /  

The 5 most challenging climbs of the Haute Route Pyrénées

If you are taking on the might of the Pyrénées this summer as part of the Haute Route or you’re simply spending a few days riding in the tyre tracks of the professionals, it pays to know what you’re up against. We’ve recruited Mike Cotty from the Col Collective to examine five of the most challenging passes in the region.

April 16, 2015 / No Comments /  

Meet the Staff – Jared Spier

Meet the Staff

Name: Jared Spier
Nationality: Canadian
Birthday: December 31st, but it’s actually January 1st GMT
Place of Birth: Winnipeg, Canada
Philosophy: Make every experience a positive one
Languages: English Canadian & French
Favourite Food: A well-done steak, barbequed to perfection by my sister
Location: Caddy Lake, Whiteshell Provincial Park, Canada
Most Surprising Food: Aubergine, wrapped in an anchovie, wrapped in smoked salmon – on paper, surely this is the recipe for horror, yet it was absolutely incredible.
Location of Most Surprising Food: La Balette, Collioure, France (Michelin star restaurant – Rapha Randonnée Pyrenean)

LF: What’s your cycling background, when/how did you start?
JS: I started playing on bikes as a recreational mountain biker, but gave triathlon a shot in 2000. I was very fortunate that Winnipeg had an incredible triathlon scene (not true for cycling in general there) and my best friends & training partners were multiple-time national champions who pushed me to achieve a level that I never would have thought possible. After quickly realizing that long-course didn’t suit my strengths, I focused on Olympic distance tri, despite never being a particularly good runner, I earned some pleasing results – including the very odd achievement of going sub-2hr at one race, without going under 40-min on the run.

LF: How long have you been working for La Fuga?
JS: My first trips were in the 2010 season, but I quickly realized that this was a company and experience that I wanted to be involved with. In April of 2011, I came on as a full-time member of staff and since passing my first winter with La Fuga, putting all of the plans in place for the upcoming season, I am truly looking forward to seeing what we can deliver in 2012!

LF: What bike are you riding this year?
JS: I’m on a 2012 Specialized Tarmac SL4 S-Works frame… just like Tom Boonen! We both run SRAM drivetrains too, but as someone who’s always been a bit obsessed with getting all of the little things right, I took a pass on his Zipps and picked each part for my perfect handbuilt wheelset.

Jared and bike

JS: What’s your favourite trip to have worked on so far?
LF: Thus far I’ve actually worked relatively few of our Sportive trips (in fact, I have yet to see either the Maratona or the Marmotte!), so I’ll keep those off my list for now. While I absolutely love the Randonnée routes and the experiences that we get to share in, as each group unites to cross what would normally seem like an insurmountable feat, I think it’s the addition of the coaching aspect, which allows just that much more connection to our guests for each week, which keeps our Majorca Cycling Academy at the top of this list for me. Each week I’ve spent in Majorca has been so incredibly rewarding that I can’t think of a better way to start our season.

LF: Describe your typical week working for La Fuga in the winter?
JS: In an ideal world, there would be an off-season, so it’s a bit odd to think that the winter months can often feel busier than summer. Long hours are spent putting together the best routes with the perfect hotels in the ideal locations, and it’s incredible how rewarding it can be when you see it all come together (I can’t wait to see how our custom Paris-Nice Tour goes!). Winter is also the only time that we get a chance to actually train on our bikes too, so the weekend miles rack up quickly and the Tuesday night chaingang is a must… even in the dark!

LF: And in the summer?
JS: It’s hard to say where I’ll be at any given point of the season, but chances are it’s somewhere I would have dreamt about in wonder when I was stuck on the turbo-trainer in the middle of a Canadian winter. Certainly the days are long and the work can be tiring, but the reward of sharing such amazing experiences with each guest or just having those ‘this is my office’ moments out on the road more then make up for the effort.

jared sweatingLF: What is the craziest thing that’s happened to you on a bike while working for La Fuga?
JS: Our Rapha Randonnée Alpine this past June was an incredibly hot trip – it seemed we hit 40deg at least once a day on the whole trip. On day one, as we rode up the first proper mountain of the route (Col du Columbiere), one of our guests was experiencing some terrible cramping. I didn’t want him to have to give up on achieving the full Randonnée ride, so I ‘brought out the turbo’ and we rode together up the final 4k of the climb. Anyone who’s seen the Columbiere knows how tough that last 3k stretch is, especially as you can see every inch of it. Now imagine it in 40deg heat, with nowhere to hide from the sun. Unfortunately, as I pushed up the mountain, I wasn’t really thinking of the effort I was putting out… until we reached the top. I was completely knackered and we still had ~50k to ride, including the Col d’Aravis. I believe I went through 10-12 bottles that day and still have no idea how I managed to just keep pedalling for the last hours, but I sure am glad that no one felt the need to test their legs on the Aravis!!

LF: What is the craziest thing that’s happened to you off the bike while working for La Fuga?
JS: On the pick-up day of one of those few sportives that I’ve managed to work, there were plenty of bikes to build and check over after dinner, to ensure they would be in perfect shape for the trips up and down the mountains that weekend. The hotel’s doors officially closed at midnight, so as I worked away into the night, the head of reception came past to let me know that they had officially locked up, but gave me the code for the front door. Despite my fluency in French and repeating several times what I understood the code to be, it was all rather horribly miscommunicated – I won’t get right into it, but if Manuel had been French, it could have been a Fawlty Towers episode.
So there I am, it’s 2:30am, and I have finished the prep on each bike and am feeling quite satisfied that a good job had been done. I returned to the hotel to find I was locked out and a bit annoyed… but still resourceful. So, dressed in my black Rapha top and black Rapha shorts, with my black toque (edit – for those that don’t speak Canadian this is in fact a beanie hat) and the right tunes going on my iPod to accompany me, I proceeded to case the joint. After confirming that there were no secondary entrances that were acceptable, I remembered that I did at least have a room with direct access to the inner courtyard, so just had to get there… and so I summoned my inner-Romeo, climbed a balconies or two and made it over the hotel!

LF: What is the best climb you have ever ridden whilst working for La Fuga?
JS: I’ve ridden so many great climbs that it’s incredibly difficult to pick just one. The Cime de la Bonette might get the honour, simply because there is just so much to enjoy, including the conversations on the way up – the climb has so many different looks to it that it seems every corner unveils something spectacular and new. That said, while it is by no means the largest climb we include on our tours, I love the abandoned beauty and scale of the Col de Sarenne. It helps me to remember how important this world is to my life (that sounds ridiculous now that I’ve typed it, but maybe you know what I mean), as the phrase ‘broadening your horizons’ could never be more relevant.

LF: And descent?
JS: It’s a tough pick, but it’s definitely down to one of three – the Col de Marie-Blanque was the first descent I fell in love with, which is a special thing to say given that I was driving a Berlingo at the time. Once I finally rode it, I couldn’t have been happier, as the corners simply flowed from each other… but watch-out for that one right-hander as you approach Bilheres. The second great descent is the little-known Col du Castillon, which again has incredible flowing corners, allowing you to maintain magnificent speed as you connect the twists and work your way down to the Med. Finally, no list would be complete without that descent into Sa Calobra out in Majorca. I don’t have the best history with this one, but did manage to exorcise a few demons during my 2012 visit and that road is simply magnificent.

Jared face

LF: Which has been the nicest hotel you have stayed in whilst working for La Fuga and why?
AC: As a general rule, I find that the biggest difference between hotels often comes down to their staff. Working for La Fuga, I have the great fortune to stay at incredible hotels, night after night, but often only for a day at a time. As such, the ease in dealing with the staff and their ability to understand our often unique requirements often makes the difference. With that in mind, The Hotel du Palais (5* start hotel for Rapha Randonnée Pyrenean) is simply incredible as there isn’t a request that the staff can’t assist with, as they truly understand our commitment to providing whatever we can to assist our guests. As an added bonus, I always make sure to get up a half-hour earlier then needed, so I can enjoy some relaxed time at breakfast, watching the waves crash on the Atlantic coast and sipping the best orange juice I’ve ever had!

LF: What are you looking forwards to most during the 2012 season?
JS: The new tours that we’ve put together, both scheduled and custom, for the upcoming season are going to be a great interest to me this year, but I think the one aspect that I’m most excited about are the new staff members who we’re bringing in. As mentioned above, it can be pretty tough work to ensure that all of our Tours run to the level we aim to achieve, so finding the right people with the shared knowledge, experience and passion has been paramount. You’ll certainly see some familiar faces on your La Fuga trips this year, but I’m really excited for you to meet our newest recruits too. After all, two seasons ago, that was me!

jared descending

April 19, 2012 / No Comments /  

A Few Days In Catalonia

Just before Christmas I spent a few days on the road reccying the route for the new Rapha Randonnée Weekend Catalonia – a three day riding trip taking in many of the roads and climbs used by the several pro riders who make their home in Girona. Our idea behind the Randonnée Weekends is to offer three days of great riding close to good transport links for easy travel and slightly less demanding riding than a big sportive or full Randonnée so prospective riders weren’t so worried about fitness levels.

Day One – Girona to Vic (90km)

We landed in Barcelona and after picking up the hire car, we’re soon on the motorway north towards Girona. The last time I had visited Girona was at the end of a challenging Pyreneen Raid where I had been carrying all my own gear and saw us ride the last couple of days into Girona in 35C+ August heat. Needless to say my memories were slightly tarnished by this experience. More positive memories were of Girona’s charming old town and numerous plazas, perfect for tapas and a glass of vino tinto.

The route for the first day’s riding would see us head west out of Girona and into the undulating hills that slowly rise up to meet the Southern extent of the Catalonian Pyrenees. The traffic of downtown Girona melts away as the route heads for the hill towns of Osor and Sant Hilari Sacalm. As we climbed away from Girona the late Autumn sunshine was diffused and filtered through the bare trees as the road wound its way up a narrow valley.

Once in this hill country, the bustle of Girona is long gone and the pace of life seems to slow down a couple of notches.  We enjoyed a brief stop in Viladrau, a charming, sleepy village with a couple of welcoming cafes. Seemed like a good lunch stop for the riders. Descending out of Viladrau, an amazing view of the mountains of the Montseny National Park opens up on our right hand side. Soon enough the road is climbing for the final time as we meander through evergreen forest on the way to the final destination in Sant Julia de Vilatorta. One final descent takes us through an avenue of plain trees and into the town.

Day Two – Vic to Llanars (125km)

It was a cold, grey start to our reccy of the second stage.  The freezing fog pervaded the valley and seemed to chill to the bone. As we climbed up and away from Vic, the fog suddenly began to clear and we were rewarded with an amazing view back from where we’d come and shafts of warm Autumn sunshine on the back of the neck. Day Two is the toughest of the three. It starts with undulations through rolling farmland before some tougher climbing after lunch. Most of the route takes in tiny roads with virtually no traffic – no wonder the pros love this place. We’re back to civilisation briefly as we navigate the narrow streets of Ripoll and straight onto the twin climbs of Coll de Canes and Coll de Coubet. In typical Spanish Pyreneen style, the climbs are well surfaced and nicely graded; no steep pitches here to shock the legs (that comes later!). The descent to Sant Joan is a treat, the perfect combination of tight hairpins, flowing corners and exhilarating straights. A first glimpse of the Southern Pyrenees towering above Sant Joan provides an amazing backdrop.

After a quick snack in Sant Joan, I was keen to reccy my chosen route north into the mountains. Marked on my maps as little more than a single black line, I was slightly apprehensive whether it could be traversed on a road bike. A quick chat with our barman reassured me that this fitting finale to the ride was possible.  After crossing the El Ter river via a beautiful single span bridge, we immediately started climbing. This was tough – my Garmin was reading 15% in places as we quickly climbed high above Sant Joan. The gradient eased slightly but we continued to climb as an amazing view back towards Barcelona opened up to our right. We were truly in the wilds now as birds of prey soared on afternoon thermals overhead and chamois scurried for cover. It was a real treat to discover the road and I can’t wait for guests to experience it as well in May. Upon reaching the end of the range, a rapid decent brought us down into Camprodon, leaving just a few kilometres to the overnight stay in Llanars. Despite the descent we were still at 1000m with the temperature gauge close to freezing as the sun began to set. Luckily we were soon in the warmth of Hotel Grevol in Llanars, a traditional ski lodge with cosy wood panelling and a welcoming log fire in the bar. We treated ourselves in the spa (something I’m sure the riders will enjoy) and enjoyed a great meal in the hotel restaurant.

Day Three – Llanars to Girona (125km)

After a wintry start we were soon on familiar roads from my previous cycling trip to Catalonia. The road between Castell de Rocabruna and Castelfollit de la Roca is one of my favourites. You start by losing some of that 1000m altitude in a series of sinuous hairpins heading for the bottom of a steep sided, wooded valley, past the charming village of Beget with its stunning Roman church and narrow cobbled streets. A couple of stiff climbs stand in the way of some flatter roads around Olot. There’s some busier roads through Olot to negotiate before we enter the beautiful Garrotxa National Park which features 40 volcanic cones and 28 lava flows apparently. Luckily for us, this volcanic activity ceased a while ago so our passage to Girona is unaffected.

The general trend for day three is descending, heading from the highlands at Llanars back to Girona. The exception to this trend is encountered as we leave the Garrotxa Volcanic Park and head to Banyoles. Rocacorba. A name that crops up with regularity in the blogs of Girona based pros such as David Millar and Michael Barry, Rocacorba is a 14km climb rising to almost 1000m above Banyoles and commanding impressive views towards Girona and beyond. It’s a tough but fitting way to end the trip. The climb starts unremarkably with a nice, steady 5% gradient to get you in the groove. Don’t get complacent though, this climb gets incredibly tough in places notably the 10%+ sections around half way and the savage final pitches to the summit. Unfortunately there’s nothing much more than a radio mast and hang gliding launch point at the summit so it’s back the way we came for a final blast back in Girona.

The Rapha Randonnée Weekend Catalonia takes place from 24 to 28 May. Read more information here

February 8, 2012 / 1 Comment /  

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