Grand Tour Spain "Experience" - Costa Blanca & The Valencian Coast

We'll meet you at Alicante airport and transport you to our lovely hotel, where we will be staying for the first three nights. Set between the historic centre of Alicante, Postiguet Beach and Alicante Marina you will be able to enjoy the best of the city. Our mechanic will help you unpack and build your bike, we'll hand out the team kit and make final preparations before tomorrow's ride. After discussing the week's programme we'll enjoy a hearty dinner in the city centre, while enjoying the buzzing atmosphere before the Big Start.

The cycle out of town in the morning will be one to behold. We will ride 50km south-west along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline toward Salinas de Torrevieja. Upon arrival in Salinas de Torrevieja, we will become acutely aware of the race. Supporters will be gathering and the incredible atmosphere will increase as we arrive at km 0 of the inaugural Team Time Trial! After a coffee stop, we will then ride 18 km route. While the riders are preparing for stage 1 we will enjoy a well-earned lunch before enjoying the spectacle that is about to unfold. After the close of stage 1, we will transfer back to our hotel in the evening for dinner.

After yesterday's ride your legs should be feeling warmed up and today we will enjoy the longest ride of the week - 91km in length with 1,360m of climbing. A short 20-minute transfer in the van will take us to the seaside town of El Campello, where we will start today's ride. Riding along the Costa Brava is simply beautiful. We will pass through Benidorm, a cycling mecca for pros in the winter! Upon arriving in Calpe, we will join the race route and cycle the final circuit, including the last climb - Alto de Puig Llorença (Cumbre del Sol – Summit of the Sun) and watch the stage 2 finish live!

It’s almost time to say farewell to Alicante. As we depart our hotel by bike today's beautiful ride will wind us past the Natural Park, Paisatge Natural Protegit "Serra del Maigmó I Serra del Sit”. We will join the official stage 3 course in Pinares de Macli and continue riding the last 38km of the stage. It’s another hilly day in the saddle but with only 1,030m of climbing the 3rd category climb, "Puerto del Tibi" will account for most of the ascent! We will watch the finish in Alicante before packing our luggage in the van and transferring to Valencia for the night.

After breakfast, you are free to spend the morning exploring the city of Valencia at your own pace. At noon we will start riding from Valencia city in the direction of Bètera, where we will join the official route and continue to cross the beautiful Parc Natural de la Serra Calderona, before climbing Puerto de L'Oronet (3rd category climb, 500m ascent). The views as we descend down to the coast in Puerto de Sagunto are spectacular. In El Puig we will pick a prime viewing spot as we await the big sprint on this flat finish! After watching the finish, we will transfer you to the next hotel in Mora de Rubielos where we will be staying for the next 3 nights.

A welcome start to the day… an easy 18 km descent and a chance to warm up your legs ahead of today's stage. There will barely be a flat kilometre in sight as we undulate up and down. We will start climbing at a steady pace and join the official route in Albentosa. We will continue climbing up Torrijas before descending down to Arcos de las Salinas. It's then just 9 km of climbing to the top of the mountain "Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre" which summits at 1950m. It's the first time this climb has featured in the race and we will watch the finish at the top of this exposed climb. When the race is over we will transfer back to our beautiful hotel in Mora de Rubielos.

Starting in the same town we have been staying in, we will take the opportunity to visit the start line and take a few photos before heading to Linares de Mora. Situated 36.5km from our hotel this beautiful village will witness the extremely fast-paced peloton whizzing through its winding streets… but we will take our time and enjoy a coffee or two before riding on! A beautiful descent will take us to the foot of the final climb up the mountain pass of Ares de Maestrat: 5 km with an average gradient of 5-6%. Once again, the crowds will be huge and vocal, and we'll soak up this adulation to drive our legs to the finish line. Enjoy the moment, as it will be an experience and a feeling you will not want to forget.

It’s the official mountain stage of the "Experience" tour! Our final ride together; stage 7. After a delicious breakfast, we will ride out from our hotel and warm up our legs for the three big climbs on today's menu: Cortes d´Arenós (346m), Castillo de Villamalefa (351m) and Mas de la Costa (500m) where we will join the course for the final climb of the stage. After completing today's ride a well-deserved beer at the finish line will be welcomed by all. It will also be an exciting stage finish and we will watch it from a prime viewing spot! The crowds will be cheering as the pros battle it out up the final climb!

Having transported you back to our hotel in Alicante last night, and enjoyed our celebratory dinner, we can relish the well earned sleep-in. After breakfast and good coffee, we'll help you with packing your bike and transport you to the airport for your trip home. You'll be taking home memories, achievements, new friendships and stories that you will never forget.