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

  • Location

    Alacante to Mas de la Costa

  • Duration

    9 Days | 8 Nights

  • Length

    60 - 100km daily

  • Climb

    500 - 1,500m daily

23 Aug 2019 - 31 Aug 2019

Experience an incredible journey that follows the first 7 stages of the Spanish Grand Tour. Starting at the remarkable pink and green saltwater lakes of the Salinas de Torrevieja Natural Park, we wind north along the Mediterranean coastline, through rustic mountain villages and over some of the most classic cycling climbs of the Valencian region and its beautiful “Orange Blossom Coast”.

This tour is designed to enjoy the best 60-100 km of each stage as we ride just ahead of the pros, making sure we always enjoy the best of the action. Whilst we’ll get immersed in the heart of the crowds and watch the race from the best possible vantage points, we’ll ride at our own pace along roads lined with olive, almond and carob trees, views of the Mediterranean sea and the best mountain climbs the region has to offer.

Highlights of the tour include the high-speed Team Time Trial where we’ll see the pro teams fighting for La Roja - the leader and overall winner’s red jersey. We’ll ride through the verdant green hills of the Serra Calderona experiencing three fast-paced downhill sprint finishes, as well as two impressive mountain stage finishes: the summit of Observatorio Astrofísico Javalambre, located at an altitude of 1950 meters, and Alto Mas de la Costa, located in “Spain’s little Tuscany".

Each evening, we'll enjoy local cuisine and stay in a lovely hotel - for this tour, the quality of hotels, food and wine are as important as the cycling. We’ll stay in the cities of Valencia, Alicante and the beautiful mid-mountain village of Mora de Rubielos.

If you haven't the time for a 9 day tour, you can join the shorter second leg of "Experience" - Basque Country, Cantabria & Asturias (6 day tour), that enjoys some of the best cycling in Northern Spain, following the Atlantic coastline and the amazing Picos Europa, or "Experience" - Final Week & Madrid (7 day tour), to watch be a part of the action packed, exhilarating race to the finish line!

Please note - Grand Tours Project is not an "Official Tour Operator" of La Vuelta. You can find these Official Tour Operators on the Vuelta website.

Total price: FROM €4,500

  • Ride the best 60-100km of 7 Stages of the third and final Grand Tour in Spain
  • Enjoy the ancient town of Alicante, beautiful Valencia, and the mountains and coast of Aragon
  • Watch the pros fight for the red jersey, from the best possible vantage points, including two mountain stage finishes
  • On every stage, enjoy the passionate and vocal Spanish supporters wherever we cycle
  • Relish the local Spanish food and wine, and relax in the lovely hotels (some with a pool - perfect on a hot day!)
  • Expert planning and support from our team (guides, mechanics, drivers)
  • Bianchi bike rental available (Infinito CV disc + Ultegra di2 electronic)
  • Photo credit : Beardy McBeard
  • Day 1 - 23 August

    Bienvenido a Alicante

    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.

  • Day 2 - 24 August

    Alicante -TorreVieja

    68km / 210m

    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.

  • Day 3 - 25 August

    El Campello to Calpe

    91km / 1360m

    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!

  • Day 4 - 26 August

    Alicante to Alicante

    74km / 1030m

    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.

  • Day 5 - 27 August

    Valencia to El Puig

    75km / 600m

    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.

  • Day 6 - 28 August

    Mora de Rubielos to Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre

    65.4km / 1700m

    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.

  • Day 7 - 29 August

    Linares de Mora to Ares del Maestrat

    82km / 1340m

    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.

  • Day 8 - 30 August

    Mora de Rubielos to Mas de la Costa

    80km / 1710m

    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!

  • Day 9 - 31 August

    Adiós

    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.