CYCLING HOLIDAYS

The area is a superb venue for road cycling, one of Europes' best kept secrets! - it is hilly but many of the gradients are gentle, 10% or less. The other road users will give you great respect which can come as a pleasant surprise. On most days you see more cyclists than cars and many professional and amateur cycling teams have training weeks in the area through the winter. In August/September the Tour of Spain often passes through the area, and many of the world's top cyclists battle it out on the region's most fearsome hills, often over the Puerto Tudons and finishing at the top of the Alto de Aitana road just a few miles from Abdet. Completing one of the big loops around the mountains to the North or the South is guaranteed to put a smile onto your face! There are plenty of cafes on the local rides where you can stop for coffee and a snack - its always great value and the Spanish coffee is top notch.

Below are just a few of our favourite routes. We can provide you with information on maps, bike hire, and lifts from the airport if you are flying

Vuelta de Serella

Abdet - Guadalest - Callosa D'en Sarria - Tarbena - Castell de Castells - Farmoca - Facheca - Gorgos - Benesau - Confrides - Abdet. 90km. 1800 Metres of Ascent.

A classic ride with ever changing vistas and some challenging climbs. This ride will be a full days outing for most. It is worth allowing time for one (or more) of the several great cafe stops en route. If you do the tour in an anti-clockwise direction you will have an easy first hour as the majority of it is downhill! Leave Abdet and turn left on the CV 70 - Callosa D'en Sarria is signposted. This is the busiest road of the route so take care, although it is still very quiet by comparison to most areas. Enjoy the amazing views across to Serella.

Abdet - Guadalest - La Nucia - Finestrat - Sella - Puerto Tudons - Alcoleja - Puerto Confrides - Abdet. 77kms. 1600 - Metres of Ascent

This ride takes in the amazing road over 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 a clockwise direction.

Abdet - Penaguila - Benifallim - Torremanzanas - Relleu - Puerto Tudons - Alcoleja - Benasau - Abdet. 80 km's. 2,000 metres ascent. This hilly ride takes in varied scenery to the South East of Abdet, including forests, deep valleys, steep hillsides and historic villages and towns.You could shorten this route by starting at Alcoleja (30 mins drive)

Cycle out up the short hill to the CV7- and head right past Confrides and over the Puerto Ares Col at approx 1,000 metres.  Enjoy the superb looping bends to the edge of Benasau where you turn left on a recently upgraded road towards Alcoleja, but turn right before Alcoleja and take the relatively flat section to Penaguila and then onto Benifallim, with just one dip to cross a deep ravine.

Abdet - Confrides Castle - Benifato - Guadalest - Embalse de Guadalest - Abdet - 32kms. 800 metres of ascent

This routes stays within the Guadalest Valley, and explores some of the narrow and almost traffic free roads that weave up to the spectacular Castle above Confrides and also connect the Lake with Abdet via an idyllic valley road. Suitable for road or mountain bike - but on a few sections the surfaces require care if you are on a road bike.

The Costa Blanca area offers great opportunities for gravel riding holidays. With a gravel bike you can connect some of the classic road circuits with the large network of tracks and trails that take more direct routres through spectacular mountain scenery. Abdet is a great base for such rides as you have access to the Sierra Serrella, Aitana and Aixorta, and also the possiblity of longer rides such as a visit Val de Ebo and the Rio Serpis.
 
Here are three rides you can try. These reports were written by Paul Tynan and Graham Hodgson who rode these routes in March
 
Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the free GPX traces to use on your garmin or gps

Area map showing some of the rides on offer from Abdet

Some of the cycling Weekly team stayed in Abdet, here are some photos from there stay. The cycling in the surrounding region offers spectacular terrain and views, making capturing the perfect shoots a pleasure.

Road Cycling Videos

ABDET SPANISH ROAD CYCLING VIDEOS