The Costa Blanca is very well-known as a destination for tourists looking for a ‘bucket and spade’ package holiday. Built-up holiday resorts like Benidorm and Alicante are the major tourist centres but you don’t have to look hard to find some peace and quiet. The Costa Blanca North and Costa Blanca South are totally different and offer some unexpected areas of beauty and great roads for cycling with little traffic and good climbing.
How to get there
The airport to use is Alicante. There is a very wide range of low cost options to fly to Alicante from airports throughout the UK from Edinburgh, Cardiff, London to Belfast and even Doncaster and Bournemouth.
Pro Cycling team Costa Blanca Cycling training camps
At the end of 2015 and the start of 2016, many cycling teams on the Pro Cycling Tour choose the Costa Blanca as the area to go and train. Below is a list of teams and the rides in the Costa Blanca that they logged on Strava. If it’s good enough for them…….?
Team BMC – Tejay van Garderen, Greg van Avermaet and team
Team Cofidis
Team Ag2R – Romain Bardet
Team Francaise des Jeux – Thibaut Pinot
Team Lotto Jumbo NL – Robert Gesink, Steven Kruiswijk
Costa Blanca Cycling training camps with Sports Tours International
Albir Garden Costa Blanca Cycling Training Camp
For Spring 2016, you can kick off your cycling season with some warm weather cycling training. Sports Tours International have been running cycling training camps for years in the Costa Blanca based at Hotel Albir Garden in Albir just outside Benidorm. New for 2016 is a cooperation with the world’s No1 closed roads Cyclosportive, the Etape du Tour. Sports Tours International are the official training camp provider for the 2016 Etape du Tour with training camps available in Costa Blanca in March:
Official Etape du Tour Costa Blanca Cycling Training Camp
Other Etape du Tour training camps are:
Morzine, French Alps – May 12th – 17th
Club La Santa Lanzarote – June 9th – 16th
2016 Vuelta a Espana – The decisive Costa Blanca stages
The 3 final, decisive stages before the Madrid ceremonial last day will take place in the Costa Blanca region. Sports Tours International offers tours to the 3 Grand Tours including a Tour to watch and ride the Costa Blanca in September 2016 – More Info here: La Vuelta 2016 – Costa Blanca Finale
Thursday, September 8 – Stage 18 – Flat Stage – Requena > Gandía 191km
Flat stage between Requena and Gandia and second-last chance for sprinters. The teams will control the escapes but the bravest riders will no doubt try to cross the finish-line alone. There are only three days left for the end of the race and two of those will help determine the outcome of the general classification.
Friday, September 9 – Stage 19 -Individual time trial Xàbia > Calp 39km
For the first time, the Vuelta will have an ITT in the third-last stage. It will consist of 39 kilometres that could be very decisive as far as the general classification is concerned, although it is important to remember that there is still one final mountain stage left. It will be a favourable day for time trial specialists, who will have the opportunity to obtain a stage victory. The final part of the stage will take place by the Mediterranean Sea.
Saturday, Sept 10 – Stage 20 – Mountain Benidorm >Alto Aitana. Escuadrón E. Aire 184km
This is the definitive day of the 2016 Vuelta. The stage consists of 184 kilometres featuring a Special Category climb, three 2nd category climbs and one 3rd category climb. The Vuelta returns to the Alto de Aitana, measuring 22 kilometres with a slope of 1280 metres and an average gradient of 5.72%. The rider that wears the Red Jersey at the Alto de Aitana will have obtained the final triumph.
Other 2016 Vuelta a Espana Tours with Sports Tours International
The Basque Country and the Pyrenees – August 31 – September 5th
For those who would like to stay and join us for the final week of the Vuelta, we offer an additional night’s stay in Pau. Whilst the others leave for Toulouse airport we have a treat in store for you as we will take you to the infamous Tourmalet today for a supported ascent and descent of the most iconic climb of the French Pyrenees. After staying the additional night in Pau, you will transfer down to Castellon for the spectacular new uphill finish at Llucena. Camins del Penyagolosa before joining the Vuelta for its finale in the Costa Blanca.
See more here: 2016 Vuelta a Espana with Sports Tours International
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