| Territory
of Champions |
This is a cycling tour which allows
you to experience the routes used
by the four Spanish winners of
the Tour de France. Not far from
Spain’s capital, north of
Madrid we have spectacular roads
with very little traffic, mountains
– and although they are
not at the height of the Pyrenees
or the Alps – they provide
us with various first and second
category climbs in the one day,
and nestled amongst them, enchanting
villages and breathtaking historical
sites. Heritage protected cities
such as Segovia and Toledo, monuments
such as Monastery of El Escorial
or medieval villages such as Pedraza.
Discover the territory of; Alberto
Contador and his home
town of Pintor, Carlos
Sastre and his foundation
in Avila, Pedro Delgado
and his love of Segovia, Bahamontes
and his treasured Toledo.
In one week you will understand
why this part of Spain is a favourite
of the cyclists, we will combine
mountainous routes with more relaxed
terrain, we’ll cycling along
well paved roads, see ever-changing
landscapes, ride along small roads
and stay in charming hotels, you’ll
have the assurance of a luxury
support van, mechanical assistance
and expert guides who have a great
knowledge of the terrain. This
is a fantastic tour to take in
Spring or Autumn, in summer on
request.
Specialised tours can be organised
for events, incentives and professionals
for training camps.
The tour finishes in Madrid with
a Spanish ‘fiesta’
and flamenco and a cultural tour
of the city. |
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Itinerary |
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Day
1 Soto del Real (Madrid)
Guests of Bike Spain Tours
are taken by van to the
town of Soto de Real. Once
we arrive at the hotel and
have had a chance to unpack,
we’ll have a welcome
drink, fit your bikes and
provide you with the maps
and gifts for the tour.
We’ll take a ride
to get acquainted with the
terrain. Soto is the preferred
location for cyclists, it
combines flat, medium and
high mountain passes. The
cycling path starting in
Madrid, ends in Soto, so
it is always busy with cyclists,
most professionals come
here to start their training
programs. |
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Day
2 SEGOVIA
After
breakfast, we’ll drive
to the top of the Morcuera
Pass, ride down and through
the beautiful Lozoya Valley,
visit the El Paular monastery
and ride along the edges
of the Pinilla Reservoir.
We’ll then go to Lozoya,
along the valley and start
to climb the Navafría
Pass. From here we ride
along the northern flank
of the Guadarrama Mountains,
travelling through oak and
pine forests on back country
roads to the town of Pedraza
- a perfectly preserved
medieval town, complete
with castle. We’ll
have lunch in Pedraza and
then continue riding along
the picturesque roads towards
Segovia, where we’ll
stay the night in a historic
hotel located in the city’s
Plaza Mayor. After check
in we have a chance to visit
Segovia’s Cathedral
and Alcázar.
Segovia is the city of Pedro
delgado www.pedrodelgado.com,
now a presenter on Spanish
television. He won the Tour
of France in 1988. |
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Day
3 El Escorial (MADRID)
Segovia’s
ancient streets and medieval
neighbourhoods provide a
great place to start today’s
riding. We’ll pass
along the ancient city walls,
under the world-famous Roman
aqueduct and go by some
marvellously old monasteries
as we travel around the
city and head towards the
town of San Ildefonso de
la Granja, built by the
first Bourbon monarchs of
Spain, who were determined
to re-create a little piece
of Versailles in the dry
plains of Spain. From there,
we’ll continue by
the pass of Navacerrada
a classic in the Vuelta
Spain. There is a fantastic
downhill where you can reach
80 km/h descending into
the town of El Escorial.
Here you’ll visit
the Monastery of San Lorenzo.
Built between 1563 and 1584,
the Monastery was the biggest
building of the Renaissance
period.
Todays riding brings us
closer to the territory
of Carlos Sastre www.carlossastre.com
winner of Tour of France
in 2008. |
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Day
4 TOLEDO
The
mountainside setting of
El Escorial is a favourite
location for cycle tourists
and road bikers alike; once
we’ve had the chance
to explore the area surrounding
the San Lorenzo Monastery,
we’ll cycle along
the roads frequented by
Carlos Sastre - medium mountainous
terrain, very pleasant and
quiet with some reservoirs,
cow farms and pine trees.
After lunch, we jump in
the van and go further back
in time, to the world-famous
city of Toledo, which was
the capital of the country
in the 15th century and
was once the most famous
seat of learning in the
peninsula. Every square
inch of the hill rising
from the banks of the Tagus
River has been built upon,
and the city is home to
innumerable convents, churches,
museums, synagogues and
palaces. Take the afternoon
to discover the narrow alleys
and hillside staircases
that have inspired everyone
from artist El Greco to
novelist Noah Gordon.
Toledo is the city of Federico
Bahamontes www.bahamontes.com
the eagle of Toledo and
winner of tour of France
in 1959.
Toledo was the capital
of medieval Spain until
1560. It sits on a rocky
mound isolated on three
sides by a looping gorge
of the river Tagus. Every
available inch of this outcrop
has been built on: houses,
synagogues, churches and
mosques are heaped upon
one another in a haphazard
spiral.
Toledo is the most significant
of all cities with a strong
Jewish, arab and Christian
heritage at same time. |
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Day
5 MADRID
After
a quick van transfer, we’ll
head to the town of Chinchón,
which has one of the prettiest
town squares in the region.
From there, we’ll
ride through the rolling
countryside to the town
of Aranjuez, going by wineries,
olive groves and melon farms.
We’ll pass by Tielmes,
Morata de Tajuña
and Colmenar de Oreja, the
towns where Alberto Contador
use to ride on a daily basis.
We will go by van to see
the town of Pinto, adorned
with Contador memorabilia.
The town’s bars, restaurants,
and locals all adore Alberto,
which you’ll quickly
come to see.
Pinto is the town of Alberto
Contador www.albertocontador.com
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Day
6 MADRID
The final day of the tour
gives you the chance to
discover Madrid on your
own, either on foot or by
bike. There’s so much
to do that it almost seems
unfair to list all the possibilities,
but favourites of past participants
– and of most visitors
to Madrid! – include
the Big Three museums (the
Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza
and the Reina Sofía),
the beauty of the Retiro
Park, or the wide open spaces
of the Casa de Campo Park
(perfect for those who’d
like a spin on a mountain
bike!) In the evening, you’re
free to go on your own tapas
crawl, take in a flamenco
show or see something cultural
at the Teatro Real or the
Teatro Nacional (we’ll
be happy to make the reservations
for you).
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Day
7 MADRID
Transfer to the airport.
Time to say goodbye to the
capital. We hope that the
tour has given you the opportunity
to discover the natural
beauty and historic depth
of Madrid and the surrounding
region. |
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PRICE 2010:
1095 € Hotels 4*-3*.
Single
supplement: 160 €
DAYS/ NIGHTS:
7
d / 6 n
LEVEL:
Interme/Advanced
2010
DATES (Monday):
March:
29
April: 5 and 26
May: 3 and 31
June: 28
Sept: 27
Oct: 18
INCLUDED:
-
Accomodation with buffet
breakfast.
- All transfers.
- Snacks/drinks in the
van.
- Maps and guidance.
- 4 lunches.
-
Bike Spain jersey [Image]
NOT
INCLUDED:
dinners
OPTIONS
:
Road bike rental:
- Carbon 140 euros.
- Aluminium 110 euros.
Travel Insurance: 25 euros.
Flamenco Show and dinners.
SUPPORTED
TOUR
MINIMUM GROUP 4 PERSONS
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-
The heritage listed cities
of Segovia and Toledo.
- The sepharad museum and
the arab legacy in Toledo.
- The city of Madrid.
- The monastery of Escorial.
- The scenic routes and
cuisine. |
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