66 | Cycling World
Cycle Gran Canaria’s Tour of Gran Canaria
Cycle Gran Canaria Tour of Gran Canaria is a 6 day,
500 km with 11000m, fully supported guided road trip
around the mountainous island the Lonely Planet calls a
“continent in miniature”
Starting from the hot and arid south, you will cycle swift ly
through the cool forests to the windy north-west coast.
Cycling down the spine of the west coast you will cross 3
weather zones. One last valiant eff ort will take you back
up to the center of the island via the famous Serenity
Climb before you will descend 1300 meters back down
to the south for a fi nal night party!
Explore Gran Canaria’s dramatic terrain with
Cycle Gran Canaria’s Tour of Gran Canaria,
the 6 stage fully supported tour of the whole
island, and their center based 5 stage Gran
Canaria Road Camp.
Cycling in the Gran Canaria
Old photos of Merckx, Indurain, and Pantani adorning
the walls of Gran Canaria’s restaurants prove the island
has always been a popular pro cycling destination. In
recent years, however, the island, has been experiencing
a second birth as a cycling destination for all types of
riders. Th e government has opened new tunnels to keep
the traffi c off the coastal roads and resurfaced nearly
all of the roads to Formula One quality. Th e climbs are
still long and steep with lots of plateaus, but always
diverse and never boring! Th e fantastic weather with an
average 22º all year, make Gran Canaria the only cycling
destination open when all other destinations are too
cold in that period from November to March.
With ascents of up to 1951 meters it’s a challenge, but a
challenge that comes with benefi ts. On each of the seven
nights, you will stay at luxurious hotels - including a 4 *
hotel with a free Th alasso - where you will share glasses
of wine from the vineyards of the island with like-minded
people you will no doubt come to call friends. On the
north-west in Agaete, you’ll stay at the smart Roca Negra
Hotel with the natural sea pools to pep you up aft er a
60km descent!
Cycle Gran Canaria’s support car will keep your energy
at the optimum level with water, energy drinks, bananas,
dried fruit and tasty treats throughout the ride. It is also
equipped with spare wheels, foot pump, tubes, and First
Aid kits.
Cycle Gran Canaria’s Gran Canaria Road Camp
Gran Canaria’s reputation as a destination for winter
training camps has accelerated in the last few years. Even
the fi tt est and strongest of riders, who’ve been coming
for years, will admit there are still some routes they have
yet, and indeed, fear to ride, like the infamous VOTT.