The Valencia region has a beautiful cycling spot in Moraira on the Costa Blanca. Thanks in part to the arrival of many professional teams and riders, such as Mathieu van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel, it is a renowned cycling area located within a 10-kilometer radius. Calpe. A name that many cyclists will recognize. Cycling in Spain is fantastic anyway. On this page you can find the experiences with cycling in the region, based on a trip in the spring. We have supplemented the information with tips and tricks on our Cycling in Alicante page.
Costa Blanca
Moraira is therefore located close to Calpe, on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante. We have previously written about this beautiful region Where many pros put in their preparation kilometers for the new season. One of the highlights of this region is the Coll de Rates. This climb has some beautiful hairpin bends and you can really enjoy the beautiful scenery there. We will definitely climb this col sometime!
Day 1: Exploring the area for a while
Actually, day 2. But because storm Corrie caused a three-hour delay, cycling wasn’t an option on the first day. After spending the first part of the day in the sun waiting at the airport in Rotterdam, we set off to explore the nearby area.
And there’s not much time for a steady income because we started off right away with a hefty dose of elevation gain. Fortunately, it wasn’t really very steep anywhere. On the other hand, it wasn’t exactly flat either. And when it does seem to be flat here, you’re obviously dealing with ‘Spanish flat’. All in all, it was still quite doable, although I would advise taking a detour here if you’re sure you have that one extra bit of extra energy for when it’s needed.
The most beautiful spot on the route was the last descent towards Moraira. Beautiful asphalt, and the view of the bay during ‘golden hour’. You can almost tear your eyes out from how beautiful it is. Do you ever cycle in Spain and not get teary?
We are currently brainstorming how the route should look like tomorrow. So stay tuned! For now: hasta mañana.
Relaxing in the Spanish spring sunshine
Today we are heading towards the interior of Spain. A firm tip right away, because it’s so much quieter there than in the touristy and more populated coastal region. Additionally, you also have beautiful views from the Spanish hills. Or are they mountains? Opinions on that are probably divided. However, you’ll find many climbs here that the pros use to test their legs and get in shape for the new season. Additionally, the Vuelta has often passed through here as well, so you can get your heart racing!
The most beautiful and longest climb we have on our agenda today is the Port de la Vall d’Ebo, which takes you to an altitude of 540 meters. It is a gradual climb with a stunning view of the sea. After that, it is downhill towards Gorga, continuing through the hilly landscape to 830 meters. The final piece of this adventure is not boring. The Puerto de Tollos via Beniaia. The steepest 100 meters is 14.7% with a maximum gradient of 17%. A kind of Wall of Huy, but longer (and therefore more painful).
After this ‘high point’, the descent of the route is largely in a downward direction, passing by the characteristic Spanish villages. Especially the part down towards Castell de Castells is truly magnificent. The white-painted houses create a beautiful contrast with the Mediterranean hills. A firm tip if you’re in this region
Even relax with a return trip to Calpe
To be honest, I’ve been in better shape at times. A day like yesterday really takes its toll, with all those steep hills in the Spanish interior. So, a good intention today is to take it a little easier. It’s a bit difficult to find a relatively flat route here. That’s why we decided to cycle from Moraira back to Calpe, to stop off here for a coffee at a shop called Service Course (by Baguet Bicyle Club), run by Belgians. Inside, the Saudi Tour was on Eurosport, and outside, a group of Belgian cycling tourists were enjoying themselves on the Kwaremont.
Actually, this was such a wonderful day. A little space to recover and enjoy while strolling along the boulevards between Moraira and Calpe.
Do you want to know more about cycling in the region or would you like to create your own trip with the help of local people? Then check out www.rollinroads.com and ask Borja Camarena to help you. He has vast experience with, among other things, organizing tours of his own, trips to the Pyrenees, the Alps, and more. Plus: he comes from the region and knows all the ins and outs that you won’t find quickly as a foreigner!
Find multiple hotel options below on this map:
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.