Grand Tour Spain - Ride Every Kilometre Week 3 northern Spain & the Basque country

We will meet you at Asturias Airport and take you to your hotel near Luanco. After check in, we will help assemble your bike or fit you to a rental bike and then set out on a welcome ride. If you have the time, wander through the old town and to the protected harbour and beach of this pretty seaside resort - a former fishing hub that is now a popular tourist resort. Back at the hotel, we will meet for pre-dinner drinks to present the GTP musettes and discuss the logistics for the coming week before enjoying our first dinner together

The final week of the Grand Tour of Spain and we hope you are inspired by the previous 2 weeks. Departure will be early in order to stay ahead of the road closures and pros. The first 70 undulating kilometres pass through Gijon, before reaching a surprisingly small category 1 climb, Mirador del Fitu (579 m). However do not assume the picturesque 538 m ascent will be a walk in the park! After 2 km, the 4.5 km incline becomes steeper, 8-10% and then 9% to the top. The picturesque ride continues over the Sella River with an ancient Roman stone bridge to admire. Your second category one climb reaches the heights of 1,003 m Collada Llomena. Steep from the start with a 9% average with one ramp reaching 16%. One more massive ESP climb to Lagos de Cavadonga - steep (up to 16%) and long but the views distract from the pain. The finish is at the very beautiful lakes. Wait for the pros to arrive or carefully ride back down to the van in Soto de Cangas.

The first 50 odd kilometres and the last 40 odd are flat. The medium mountains are found in between. The climb to La Estranguada has two possibilities - one is from Llerana via Alto de la Cruz, longer and not steep; the other possible route is directly from Llerena…steep (up to 20%!) and only 5.5 km. Either way, the views consist of bucolic countryside and from the top it is magnificent. Descend to San Roque de Riomiera and ride through the lined cliffs before ascending 8.5 km and 500 m to the treeless Alto del Caracol. Then it is mainly downhill to Puente Viesgo and flat to the finish is Santander, a place of “white sand beaches, elegant mansions and palatial architecture with avant-garde buildings”. A transfer to Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country.

Vitoria-Gasteiz, a place that saw Napoleon’s Peninsular ambitions end when the future Duke of Wellington won a decisive battle. Beethoven dedicated his battle piece, Opus 91 to Wellington and this battle. The stage starts fast and crosses the rolling green Basque countryside along country lanes before reaching the first climb, Alto de Rivas de Tereso, on a ridge. Descend to Elciago and return to the same ridge line but different pass, Puerto de Herrera (1,102m). It starts gently but the gradient increases about 2 km after Leza, reaching 11% to 13%. Thereafter it is a rolling ride on narrow roads through the beautiful Parque Natural de Izki and the endemic Pyrenean oak forests. The last 4 km is a descent into Maeztu. The team will transfer you to your hotel near Logrono.

Logroño is the capital of La Rioja and on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, a Spanish culinary capital AND Rioja wine. The first 50 km is flat countryside and straight forward before a 5% ascent to Puerto de Pradilla (1,241 m). A 24 km descent to Santo Domingo de la Calzada follows. Continue into the dry countryside of crops and olive groves. Just after Hornos de Moncalvillo, turn right and start the 820 metre climb to the finish on Alto de Moncalvillo (1,491 m). An Average of 9% ramps with steeper ones about 4 km from the finish.The extensive views over the surrounding countryside are magnificent. Transfer to Villarcayo.

Stage 20 could be the decider of the 2024 maillot rojo. Like a dragon’s back, the cumulative elevation gain of 7 category climbs plus everything in between, will be over 4,000m. The final climb to Picón Blanco (1,516 m) and after the other 5 climbs, is brutal with an average gradient of 9% but with ramps up to 18%!!! Although the finish will be dramatic, we recommend a safe cycle descent to the van before the road is closed for the race - there is a long transfer to Madrid for the final stage the next day.

Enjoy a real 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.

Finally, a sleep-in! And you will be able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Consider booking an afternoon flight so you can relax and or perhaps visit the sites of Madrid. The GTP team will assist you in checking out and take you to Madrid Airport for your flight home or to your next destination.