ALs you want to cycle in Spain, there are regions that capture your imagination more than Madrid. What's hot: we ourselves are fans of Mallorca, we were recently in Basque Country and also around Calpe it is a lovely place to be. Yet here we also want to make a case for the Spanish capital. Royal cycling in Madrid, is that perhaps a good term? We're not 100% sure about that yet. What we do know is that Madrid offers more than a few wide streets, Puerto del Sol square, football, museums and a flea market. Madrid is also a go-to destination for cycling enthusiasts. Not in the heart of summer, though. Explorer Dennis takes you on a scenic route on the western side of the capital.
Text and photos: Dennis Knuist
Destination Madrid
When I decide to go to Madrid in spring, I do not yet know exactly what to expect. At the invitation of a cycling club friend, I head to the capital of Spain. For me, it is mostly known from weekends away and often from the finish of La Vuelta. I let myself be surprised. For this trip, I have booked accommodation in Pozuelo de Alarcón, west of Madrid. In hotel flat The Oliver I feel right at home. Not only because it is right next door to Domestique cycling lab. This is a beautiful shop with passionate staff. They are very helpful, including with picking out nice routes in the area. The hotel has great rooms, good beds and you can bring your bike into the room.
Go West!
Setting off for this route, we head west from Pozuelo de Alarcón towards Brunete. There, you come across some busier roads and through a villa district. This is acceptable for a while because from there you are presented with the best of the region. Here you will find vast roads along fields and through the hills with small villages and short climbs. The
Climbs and bunkers
What characterises this area are the short climbs. Although you often see long straight roads in the Vuelta, which seem sleek as a billiard cloth, it is nevertheless an uneven landscape. The route dishes us a number of climbs that are not very steep. You're looking at an average of four to five per cent and in terms of length, you'll max out at just six kilometres. In total, you'll cover a nice 1700 altimeters in 120km. For Madrid and its surroundings, you might not expect this. The roads are generally good and the tarmac is smooth, not slippery. Traffic outside Madrid is really minimal, but always keep an eye out for a truck here or there. Along the route you have many bunkers from the Civil War (Guerra civil) 1936-1939. There was heavy fighting around Madrid. Many monuments in villages along the route are also reminders of this time.
NASA is here
Once you gain some altitude, from Colmenar del Arroyo you arrive at the NASA deep space communications centre. This complex with a very large saucer park was built around the 1st moon landing in 1969. It is an imposing structure, with a beautiful road leading to it.
Views and more
From the road you have a good view over the centre which is a little lower. Here the climbs are a bit steeper and longer but the views of the surroundings are beautiful. In Villanueva De la Cañada you have a nice place for a coffee stop or lunch. Crumble has delicious coffee and various cakes and tarts. But also delicious sandwiches. From the coffee stop back to Pozuelo de Alarcón, it's basically just downhill. Past villages and again long stretches of road with views of Madrid in the distance. Halfway up another short steep climb before returning full speed back to Domestique for a coke and a poke bowl for lunch.
