Spain’s Grand Tour Race - Ride Every Kilometre week 1 - Lisbon, Andalusia and Granada

We will meet you at Lisbon Airport and take you to your hotel nearby. After check in, we will help assemble your bike or fit you to a rental bike and then set out on a welcome ride. 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.

A day to push hard on the short but very fast 12 kilometre ITT course. Starting at Belém Tower, a 16th century fortification that was once the ceremonial point of departure and arrival for the seafaring Portuguese explorers - a fitting place for the Stage 1 departure of Spain’s Grand Tour. The route passes along the waterfront and finishes in Oeiras at the golden sands of Praia de Torre beach, protected by the São Julião da Barra fortress. Return back to the hotel to change and return for the start of the race or to the race finish in Oeiras, to watch and cheer on the pros as they fight for Stage 1 glory.

An undulating stage starting from Cascais just west of Lisbon and a vibrant Atlantic seaside town that retains its old Portuguese charms. The route heads north and it is relatively flat. The highest climb is Alta da Batalha 381 m just 19 km from the finish in Ourém, considered older than the nation of Portugal. The castle and mediaeval old town stands over the finish in the modern town. The team will gather you up and transfer you to your hotel near Lousã.

Another hilly stage and starting from the heart of Portugal, Lousã. Riding north and edging into the Serra da Lousã, you will reach Coja before riding into the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela and across to Covilha via the category 2 climb, Alto de Teixeira (856 m). One more climb to Alto Alpedrinha (744 m) before the finish in Castel Branco, a town named after the castle thought to have been built by the Knights Templar. You will be collected for the 2 hour transfer to your hotel near Plasencia in Spain.

The Grand Tour Spain is now in Spain! And this day is the first mountain stage - two category 1 climbs. A day to conserve your energy too because the last climb is going to be brutal. After Navezuelas, there is a gentle gradient before the climb kicks in. The pitches jump from 3% to 11% up to 14% with 19 - 20% ramps to really get the heart pumping. Eventually, you will arrive at Pico Villuercas (1,549 m). Stay to watch the pros fight to reach the top. Then descend by bike to Guadalupe for your 2 hour transfer to your hotel near Fuente del Maestre.

After the mountain stage, a flat stage is always welcome. Stage 5 is classified as flat…it is all relative. Starting in Fuente del Maestre, a small town with a big history - archeological sites from the Paleolithic to the Roman period, early Roman and Visigothic Christian churches, Muslim tombs and Renaissance churches plus a famous marble fountain, Fuente del Corro. The route has long stretches through hot dry fields before dropping down to the Seville plain. We suggest an early start to avoid the heat.

Andalusia and wearing the cultural and historical architectural influences of the Moorish period that ended in the 15th century. The hottest and driest state in Spain, be prepared to stay hydrated. First up, approximately 50 km of flattish riding and then a category 1 climb to Puerto del Boyar (1,106 m ) - 15 km and 874 m of ascent. Best done in the less hot early morning! Then an undulating ride with three category 3 climbs through dry countryside white villages nestled into hillsides. One more category 3 climb to the finish on Alto de las Abejas Yunquera - not steep but in the heat and at the end of a ride, still challenging. Jump in the air conditioned van for your transfer near Archidona.

Early start again to beat the heat of the afternoon. Leave Archidona through olive groves and dry meadows and head north over undulating hills to the beautiful Moorish city of Córdoba on the edge of the Guadalquivir river. Córdoba, originally a Roman and Visigothic city, became an important Islamic centre for education and learning as well as the 2nd largest city in Europe in the 10th century. La Mezquita mosque from 784 AD is the most famous site and possibly because of its astounding beauty was turned into a church which preserved the architecture. We suggest visiting here if there is time.

Úbeda is a protected UNESCO Heritage Site for the numerous Renaissance styled palaces and churches constructed by Castillian aristocratic families in the 16th century. Starting early again, head out to the hills that surround the Guadalquivir reservoir. The terrain offers little shade by the dry pine vegetation but the scenery is tranquil. Puerto Mirador de Las Palomas provides the first mountain climb of 437 m before a descent to and past Cazorla through olive groves. The route loops back the last climb Sierra de Carzola 1,056 m averaging 8.2% ramps. A transfer to the coast and your hotel.

The end is near and the final day for REK week 1 - and a huge day of riding. Our estimate calculates over 4,000 metres of climbing with the fist category 1 climb, Puerto de El Purche, providing 15-17% pitches. The following loop around Embalse de Canales encompasses two climbs of Alto de Hazallanas (1,675 m). Steep pitches averaging 9% but up to 20% and 708 m of climbing each time. The final descent back to Granada will be a relief! Stay and cheer on the pros as they finish or collapse at the hotel nearby.

Finally, sleep in and you enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Consider booking a late flight so you can also visit some of the beautiful sites of Moorish Granada. The GTP team will assist you in checking out and take you to your departure point for your flight home or to your next destination.

A very long week one - 9 days of riding through diverse landscapes from Lisbon Portugal on the Atlantic coast, into central Portugal and then down through central Spain for the last days in dry hot and beautiful Andalusia. 1,419 km and the elevation yet to be announced - if you are seeking a summer challenge… this week fits the bill.