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Experience the passion and adrenaline of the last week of the Vuelta going through the wine region of Ribera de Duero, Burgos, Castilla and the mountain regions of the Sierra de Guadarrama and Gredos. From the vineyards that produce the best wine in the world, in the Douro River, with hilly landscapes and quiet roads, the race enters the Central System. After that the race will pass through the well-known mountains of northern Madrid, the area that has provided a stage to the Vuelta for many years. You can expect perfect roads and beautiful valleys during the last days. The race traditionally ends in Madrid, the country’s capital.
La Vuelta is the most intimate of the 3 professional European grand cycling tours. Our unique trip offers you the opportunity to get close to the cyclists, watch them pass by, be present at the starting and/or finishing points of the various stages and visit the hotels where the teams stay. The day generally starts with a morning ride and after a relaxed lunch we face the last kilometers of the days’ stage.
Throughout the tour you will be accompanied by our fully equipped van, should you wish to take a break from cycling. Our experienced guides will ensure our road bikes are adjusted to your preferences (or you may choose to bring your own bike). They will be at hand to assist you from the moment you arrive in Spain, having great knowledge of the country, the roads and the routes to ensure you have nothing to worry about but the pleasure of cycling.
The relaxed atmosphere and accessibility to the pro cyclists and their teams during La Vuelta make it a very special journey. Make sure you don’t miss out on this truely unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime-experience!
See the photo gallery of our 2018 tour for La Vuelta HERE.
Arrival Day
Accomodation: H10 Puerta Alcalá
La Vuelta: Stage 15: Tineo > Sanctuario del Acebo – 159km. More information.
Arrival to Madrid is at leisure today. Madrid Barajas Airport is well connected to the city by bus, train or taxi (20 minutes). You will have time to get to know the city and prepare your bicycle.
You will be expected at 7PM in the hotel lobby to meet your Bike Spain Tours guides. They are exited to meet you and looking forward to the trip!
Madrid is a charming city with many interesting things to see. It combines the most modern infrastructures with a great cultural and artistic heritage. The capital also has more than 60 museums that cover all fields of human knowledge.
Tonight dinner is not included but we can recommend you plenty of places you can go.
Sierra de Guadarrama and medieval towns
Accomodation: Hotel San Antonio el Real
Our route: aprox. 60km, +900 m (additional kms possible)
La Vuelta: Stage 16: Pravia > Alto de la Cubilla – 155km. More information.
This morning, your guides will pick you up at your hotel at 09AM and take you to the mountains of Madrid. There we will ride a route with several descents and a good climb at the Lozoya valley. We’ll have lunch at Pedraza, a beautiful medieval town, where we can taste a delicious roast lamb in a very special environment.
After lunch, transfer to Segovia by van. Free time to visit the aqueduct, the castle and the medieval streets.
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Rest Day
Accomodation: Hotel Torremilanos
Our route: TBC
Today we will make our way to Burgos by van (200 kms, 2h) where the teams are enjoying a rest day, and we will ride a training round with the MOVISTAR team. Usually, when the riders have time we can chat and have a coffee together.
After the route in Burgos, we will have the possibility to visit the city, its cathedral and monuments. We will stop for lunch on the way to our hotel in Aranda de Duero. There, we will have a visit and wine tasting of the famous Ribera Duero winery. Their excellent wines sold all over the world.
Meals included: breakfast and dinner with Ribera wine.
Accomodation: Hotel Torremilanos
La Vuelta: Stage 17: Aranda de Duero > Guadalajara – 199.7km. More information
Our ride: 109.1 kilometers · +874 m / -870 m
Today we cycle along vineyards, castles and wineries. We will arrive in Aranda to see the start of the race and there will be time to see all the riders from nearby. We will continue our route through the Douro River area.
Dinner at the hotel included with Ribera wine.
Meals included: breakfast & dinner.
Sierra de Guadarrama (Madrid)
Accomodation: Parador de Gredos
La Vuelta: Stage 18: Colmenar Viejo > Becerril de la Sierra – 180.9km. More information.
Ruta: 46.8 km· +1,004 m / -1,106 m
This morning we will take you by van to the mountains of Madrid where we the decisive mountain stage will take place. We will ride in the area of Navacerrada and Cotos and watch the end of the stage in Becerril de la Sierra. After the stage we will move by van to the Parador de Gredos in Ávila (141 kms 1,30h).
Meals included: breakfast and dinner with selected wines
Valleys of Ávila
Accomodation: Parador de Gredos
La Vuelta: Stage 19: Ávila > Toledo – 163.4km. More information.
Ruta: 97.2 km +960 m / -1,910 m
Today we start off by bicycle straigh from the hotel to ride in the Sierra de Gredos and watch the riders pass by in San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Cenicientos. Gredos is one of the most extensive mountain ranges of the Central system and part of it is declared a regional park. Needless to say the views are stunning and nature will really leave you breathless.
Today we won’t watch the start nor the finish live but we will stop cycling on time so we can watch the finish on a TV screen. At the and of the day we return to the hotel by van.
Meals included: breakfast and dinner with selected wines.
Accomodation: H10 Puerta de Alcalá
La Vuelta: Stage 20: Arenas de San Pedro > Plataforma de Gredos – 189km. More information.
Ruta: 79.4 km +1,942 m / -1,779 m
Today we’ll ride in the surroundings of our hotel in Gredos, because the stage ends very near. These are the final and decicsive moments before the grand final tomorrow! We will cycle the last 80 kilometers of the race and watch the riders pass the finish line from the VIP area.
Afterwards we will take you Madrid by van (180 km, aprox. 2h). Once arrived at the hotel, the guides say goodbye and you can enjoy Madrid on your own.
Meals included: breakfast
The Grand Final
Accomodation: H10 Puerta Alcalá
La Vuelta: Etapa 21 (final): Fuenlabrada > Madrid – 105.6km. Más información.
Today is the day of the Grand Final.
If you are not tired of this week cycling we really recommend you to take a walk in the nearby Retiro Park and enter a museum. At midday the 5-hour show begins (time to be confirmed).
First you can watch the women’s race and around 18pm the professionals arrive to the city where they will ride the traditional laps through the centre.
For those who have added the VIP NEPTUNO experience at the finish line (optional at 350 EUR) they will have a more exclusive space and a quality buffet.
Meals included: breakfast
Departure day
After the breakfast, our services end.
Today is at leisure. The Bike Spain guides will be available to help you with your travel plans and with any other details so that you have a happy trip back home!
Hotel H10 Alcalá
This hotel was entirely renovated in 2016 and offers a quality stay
The H10 Puerta de Alcalá is located about 100 meters from the Retiro Park in Madrid and the subway station Principe de Vergara. It offers elegant rooms with wooden floors, minibar and pillow menu.
Hotel San Antonio el Real
It is located 10 minutes walking from the aqueduct and the main square.
Hotel San Antonio El Real is the accommodation that you are looking for: with a wealth of detail and an impeccable cuisine, it is located in a part of the San Antonio El Real Monastery, a National Monument of a beautiful city deemed as a World Heritage Site. Fully-equipped bedrooms, with Hispanic-Muslim art, boast some of the most modern services and facilities, which include a spectacular garden-cloister and the famous Cloister of San Antonio El Real and Restaurant. History, high cuisine and comfort get together.
Hotel Torremilanos
An autentic hotel situated on a beautiful location
The Torremilanos Hotel is located in a beautiful country estate on the outskirts of Aranda del Duero. It offers a wine cellar, an à la carte restaurant and rooms with a balcony overlooking the gardens.
Hotel Parador de Gredos
Located in a pine forest just off the Sierra de Gredos.
This Parador occupies an authentic building dated from 1928. The terrace, the library and the elegant lounge overlook beautiful gardens.
