Anyone cycled in Calp (Spain)?

[Get Karter]

Looking for experience, tips etc for cycling from Calp.

My son and a teammate (U18s) have taken it upon themselves to book a week’s Airbnb and cheap flight to do some pre season training later this month.
Any advice I could pass on?
Thanks

[Gummi]

Calp (Calpe) is very popular for pro early season training camps. I’ve not been but from everything I’ve heard it’s a great place to ride.

Start here for info: https://epicroadrides.com/destinations/cycling-spain/calpe-costa-blanca/
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/routes/overseas/cycling-denia-calpe-411675

For more just Google “Calpe cycling routes” or “Calpe cycling guide”.

[z4RRSchris]

yup, went last year and going in march again.

Col D’rates is the nice test. tudons is long long.

just look at any pros strava and there are loads of routes to use.

[Ashfordian]

Get Karter said:

Looking for experience, tips etc for cycling from Calp.

My son and a teammate (U18s) have taken it upon themselves to book a week’s Airbnb and cheap flight to do some pre season training later this month.
Any advice I could pass on?
Thanks

Ride on the right?

I suspect if they have the nous to book flights and an Airbnb, they will already have more than enough good routes bookmarked on Strava to choose from (especially as lots of pro teams train there early season)

[jon-yprpe]

Lovely road from Calp to Xabia, you cut inland up La Fustera….but loads of nice rides up - Cap de la Nau, Halon Valley, over to Denia etc. Big riding area so lots of routes.

[okgo]

Ashfordian said:

Ride on the right?

I suspect if they have the nous to book flights and an Airbnb, they will already have more than enough good routes bookmarked on Strava to choose from (especially as lots of pro teams train there early season)

This. Nobody goes to Calpe by chance. It’s entirely forgettable. But is well located and cheap for cycling, suspect they know all this already. Though really you’re better staying inland IMO. Not grim busy road then.

Val d’ebo, Rates, Tudons, Cumbre Del Sol all very well trodden local climbs. Some lovely roads around through the (almond?) groves.

[z4RRSchris]

not much going on in the evenings....

[JEA1K]

Great roads, lots of other cyclists around and plenty of routes to get from Strava.

One word of advice for them ... make sure their routes go through/near larger towns for water/food stop. We really struggled to find any smaller towns and villages with shops ... or that are open during the day on longer rides.

[z4RRSchris]

Nice Stops:

Nomad Hotel - on the beach, always loads of pros. nice food.
https://goo.gl/maps/9hQdsHDzAPKFi3GS6

Velosol - bottom of Rates, loads of pros.
https://goo.gl/maps/1x8HZrLqqXdyT97P9

Musette - bottom of rates, food bit st
https://goo.gl/maps/7ChDpbHSanZc9LQCA

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

There’s a great road which may not feature so much on Strava routes called CV-749. It turns off the road you use to get to the Jalon valley and loops round to Jalon itself. I’ve ridden these routes and can recommend them:

https://www.strava.com/routes/8255046 - You can add the above extension to this one

https://www.strava.com/routes/7020612

As others have said there’s no end of great roads particularly if you keep inland, although if they’re there for a while then a ride to Platja Granadella and then on to Javea may work well as a change of scenery even the roads are pretty busy. They could include a grind up to Cumbre Del Sol in that route if they’re really keen

[Get Karter]

Thanks for all the replies guys. My son has read them all and you’ve added some route ideas that he hadn’t thought of. He’s hopeful of bumping into any pro riders who may still be there.
As for me, I just hope he follows the early advice of: ride on the right!

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

If it helps to put your mind at ease I’ve always found the drivers over there to be very respectful and patient around cyclists, and once you’re away from the coast and the trunk road it’s very quiet anyway.

[Ashfordian]

Get Karter said:

As for me, I just hope he follows the early advice of: ride on the right!

The riding on the right is surprisingly simple and easy to get use to. Probably because the roads are so good compared to home that you know you must be in a foreign country!

The hardest part of riding on the right is roundabouts IMO, but they are not really that hard, and as you are coming up slower because you are on a bicycle it all makes sense because you are riding on the right.

[S100HP]

I rode up Pinos. Was hard.

https://strava.app.link/LFxeFkhigxb