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Vuelta de Aitana
Abdet - Alcoleja - Puerto Tudons
- Sella - Finestrat - La Nucia - Callosa D'en Sarria
- Guadalest - Abdet
80km. 1600 - Metres of Ascent |
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This ride takes in the amazing descent from
Puerto Tudons - a route often taken by the Tour of Spain
- follow the wheels of some of cycling's greats.
This route can be cycled in either direction
- it is a great challenge either way. We describe it here
in an anti-clockwise direction.
Leave Abdet and cycle out towards the CV
70 and take a right turn toward Alcoy. You will soon warm
up on the long, but never very steep, climb past Confrides
to the Puerto (col) de Confrides at 966 Metres. On cooler
days it is worth taking a windproof for the long decents.
The descent towards Benesau is 5km of alpine style switchbacks.
Shortly after passing Ares del Bosque take the left turn
to Alcolecha, an old stone built mill town and one of the
highest towns in the area.
The twisting road now climbs
all the way to the route's high point, the Puerto Tudons
at 1000 Metres. You may well recognise some famous Vuelta
de España names painted on this section of road.
Keep an eye out for tigers, lions, etc on the next section
as you get good views into the large Aitana safari park
on the right hand side. You will soon be absorbed in
another exhilarating descent though, this time all the
way down to the village of Sella. This is a good point
for a cafe/bar stop and there are several along the main
street that have great views from the balconies.
Although our map shows a road connecting
back to Guadalest from here this is mainly an unsurfaced
and somtimes rough track (great on a mountain bike though).
Leave Sella and continue descending until the left turn
to Finestrat drops down to cross the river and climbs back
towards Finestrat. You now get great views of the Puig
Campana, the areas most distinctive peak. Head on through
Finestrat (good cafe stops possible here) and the road
climbs gradually to a col between the Puig Campana and
the Sierra Cortina.
A swift descent now
follows to the junction with the CV 70. On this less
scenic part of the ride there is a cycle path to
one side of the road which may be worth utilising
as the traffic can be quite fast. Carry on along
this road passing many roundabouts and ignore the
first sign to Guadalest - instead carry on toward
La Nucia and once through this busy town take the
road the Callosa D'en Sarria (again ignoring a sign
for Gualadest). You now drop down to cross the Rio
Guadalest and then up to Callosa. Follow the signs
for Guadalest this time (turning left at a roundabout).
It is now 20 kms of climbing back to Abdet, but it
is never steep and the scenery is enough to take
your mind off it! There is a "tourist
trap" as you cross the Rio Guadalest again
and this is a good place to get a snack to help
you up the remaining climbing. This is a truly
great section of climbing as the road twists and
turns, always at a gentle, but steady gradient.
In the spring you are likely to see quite of a
lot of groups on this road, including top amateur
and professional teams.
Guadalest , the 'Eagle's Nest', enjoys
one of the most spectacular locations of any village
in Spain, set high up on a pinnacle and carved out
of a mountain top in the midst of truly stunning
scenery. It has a population of only 200 but is one
of the most popular tourist attractions in Spain.
It is well worth a look around if you have the time
(or energy!). |
Click
here for the Aitana Circuit Gallery
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You are on the final section now - in Spring
the scent of the almond trees is something you will remember.
In the summer months you could finish your ride by cooling
of in one of the local open air pools.
map - distances are in km's
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