Wow, Madrid is the 4th largest city in Europe; there are more than 3 million people living in the city, and even more than 6 million in the metropolis. Why would you go cycling there? Just because it’s possible to find some peace and quiet. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have been living here for almost 3 years now, and it’s finally finally happened. I always feel guilty when I take a day off to cycle, but the family has absolutely no problem with it (my wife never does anyway, the treasure).
Departure west of Madrid
I’m leaving west of Madrid (about 20 minutes from the city center). The requirements are clear: a lot of climbing, one round (no back and forth), and no unpaved roads. It’s a perfect fit for my goal of cycling the Giro, starting one day before the pros from Tirana, Albania, on Thursday, May 8. With Komoot, I was able to quickly find a round by filtering, allowing me to have a cup of coffee with some snacks along the way in El Escorial.
Read about Kees’ adventure in the Giro:
- Kees in the Giro: on to stage 3 in Albania
- Giro d’Italia 2025 – One day before: The first week full of heroism, rain and gravel
- Kees in the Giro d’Italia – week 2
- Kees out for the Giro d’Italia – Week 3
Despite the sometimes busy traffic, I never feel unsafe, thanks to the requirement for cars to pass me at least 1.5 meters apart.
Stuwmeren region
In Spain there are approximately 350 dams that store a total of 56,136 cubic hectares of water. Many of these dams were built during the Franco dictatorship when entire villages (talked about 500) were evacuated and cleared (often with violence) to create enough space for water management. However, dams are still being built with 17 new projects planned until 2033.
Looking for a cortado and some delicious treats
In the center, I have a nice espresso with my family, while my brother-in-law and sister-in-law prefer a cortado, an espresso with milk: The big difference with a cappuccino is the amount of milk. A cortado has a ratio of 1:1, which means that 50% of your drink is espresso and 50% is warm milk. With a cappuccino, you pour about 100ml of frothy milk into your espresso shot of 30 ml. That is therefore about three times as much milk as a cortado. A treat afterwards is of course not to be missed; we enjoy a good raspberry tart.
The Escorial (1563-1584) was built on the orders of King Philip II of Spain. It is a palace, an abbey and a royal mausoleum in one.
Philip dedicated the complex to San Lorenzo (Laurentius of Rome), in honor of the day of the Laurentian Day on which he had defeated the French in the Battle of Saint-Quentin. Philip II had the Escorial built as his father Charles V's final resting place, also as a place where he could retire and engage in prayer in community with the clergy for his eternal rest.
In the crypt beneath the altar are the 26 tombs of the Spanish princes and their wives. The infantes (originally in Spanish it was the term used for a child under 7 years of age) are also buried there.
Robledo de Chavela
After Escorial, the climbing gets even more intense, but the slopes aren't super steep, and they're only a few kilometers long at most, so it's quite manageable. My Garmin pedals give excellent power readings; it's going well.
What a pleasure it is to drive down on beautiful asphalt, especially since it’s quiet and there are no cars behind you pressing you down. During the 5-hour drive there are occasional mental dips, but the surroundings make up for a lot of that! Tired but satisfied, I lie down on the couch to enjoy the moment.
The route around Madrid
Renting a bike
If you’re not going to Madrid by car or train, you’ll probably be taking the plane. For a weekend trip with the suitcase on a bike, that’s quite a hassle. If you want a nice rental bike, get a bike from Bike Spain Tours. I got a nice Specialized. You can Select here yourself
More about Madrid
Want to read more about Madrid? Then take a look at the article that explorer Dennis Knuist wrote about his experiences. Cycling in Madrid: the unknown doesn't make you indifferent!
Stay in Madrid
The route from this story
- Spain: Cycling in Madrid (or actually outside of it)112.0 km · 1,616 hmGPX ↓
Questions & tips
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