Grand tour Spain "Experience" - Final week & Madrid

Welcome to Spain! We will meet you at Asturias Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Our team will help you to check in and unpack your bike or fit you to your rental bike. After a light lunch or snack, we’ll test-ride the bikes and ride out along the bike routes on the coast. Back at our hotel, the GTP team will provide the Experience tour briefing over apero before your first dinner together.

The day starts with a transfer after breakfast into the hinterland that is known as Green Spain - specifically to the top of the category one climb, Collada Llomena (1,000 m). Your ride will follow 40 km of the official race route down through San Juan de Beleno until Soto de Cangas when the climbing commences to the beautiful Lagos des Covadonga (1,085 m). A beautiful ride and once at the finish, join the fans to cheer the pros cross the stage finish. When the road re-opens you can descend by bike to Soto de Cangas and then be transferred to Santander.

After an early breakfast, the ride will start from the hotel and meander along the coast and country lanes to Arnuero - cute and picture perfect and in time to watch the teams being presented before the start. It's a real experience to hear and feel the increasing excitement with thousands of cheering fans. When the race has departed, the GTP will guide you to lunch at the seaside of Noja, overlooking the golden sands of Playa de Trengandin. A swim in the sea perhaps and then a transfer to Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of Basque Country.

Away from the seaside and into fertile Basque Country. Straight after breakfast, you will ride out of the city and over the heavily forested hills into the province of Castile and Leon for a short time before returning into Basque Country. The route will take you on lanes and roads lined by flat wheat and crop fields and over forested hills and into the beautiful Izki National Park, a place of outstanding natural beauty, surrounded by mountains and Pyrenean Oak forests. The finish is at Maeztu where you can wait for the pros to arrive.

A relaxing day climbing the final race ascent, up the winding road to Alto de Moncalvillo (1,490 m). Savour the views and then descend the same way to our destination winery for a light lunch and Rioja wine tasting under the dramatic Laguardia escarpment. The team will load you into the van and transfer you to your hotel.

An early start today because after the riding, there is a long 4 hour transfer to Madrid after the ride. First up, the team will transfer you to Portillo de Lunada (1,323 m) on the race route and immediately it’s a descent to Las Maccheros; veer left and start climbing Portillo de la Sia (1,235 m); about 7 km but a manageable gradient. At the top you will find a ridge line of sculptural wind turbines and extensive views of the valleys and rock escarpments and glimpses of the sea. Keep riding on the quiet country road through the pictures and oak forests and soon enough you will find yourself on Puerto de Los Tornos (918 m). Then a rewarding descent to Aguera, a quick change into comfy clothes, light refreshments and on the road to Madrid.

Enjoy breakfast but not too long as there is the 22 km Individual Time Trial route to ride before it is closed to the public. The team will transfer you to the start in Distrito Telefonica and from here follow the route to the finish line on Gran Via in front of Edificio Telefónica - the route start and finish celebrates 100 years of the national telecommunications organisation. Fans will be starting to line the route and you will experience the increasingly festive atmosphere. Return to your hotel to change and enjoy lunch before returning to the finish to join the fans and watch the individual riders push themselves to their limits. After the winners are presented, the team will escort you back to the hotel and dinner will be held somewhere special for your final night to celebrate your own achievements.

The departure day has arrived already. Perhaps you plan to continue following the tour into Spain with us. If not, we will assist you in checking out and arrange for you to be transferred to Madrid Airport for your trip home or ongoing journey. Or stay longer and enjoy a day or more of relaxing in Madrid.

We hope that the final week of the Grand Tour of Spain Experience description inspires you to join us on the final Grand Tour of the 2024 season.