Text: Ruth Koops of \u2019t Jagt<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The spokes in our wheels spin slowly as the blades of the meters-high windmills you find on the southern flanks of the island. Here, the wind often blows strongly, which is why there are at least three wind farm complexes in the area. We climb from Por\u00eds on the Abona to Villa de Arico after first driving from G\u00fc\u00edmar over the beautifully winding TF-28 to our first coffee stop. \u2018Tenerife rolling,\u2019 our guide Alberto Delgado from Tenerife Bike Training calls these first kilometers. In other words, for the cyclists in Tenerife this part of the route is fairly flat. But our Dutch bike legs need to get used to this short, at times steep climb and descent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This beautiful route in the south of the island runs largely along the Carretera Vieja, or the Old Road. This was originally the main road that connected the north and south of Tenerife. Locally, this road is also known as the road of a thousand bends. And we can definitely feel that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After several kilometers of turns and turns, the first Cortado awaits at Casa Arbelo in Arico Viejo. The espresso with milk is the typical coffee stop when you go cycling in Tenerife. Here, it\u2019s not without \u2018Rosquetas de Batata\u2019, a doughnut-like snack made from sweet potato. According to insiders, this contains more than 90% sugar, also known as \u2018rocket fuel\u2019. We definitely need that sugar for the climb that then takes us past the windmills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For nearly ten kilometers, we climb at an average gradient of 5.2% and a maximum of 10%. The road is incredibly quiet, with hardly any other traffic. This is cycling as it was meant to be. Sometimes it feels as if you are the only one in the world. When you ride alone, all you hear is your own breathing, the wind, and the rustling of your wheels and the blades of the windmills. In a surreal, sometimes desert-like landscape where you can easily imagine yourself dancing on the pedals over the flanks of a volcano.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"cycling](\"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/20230505-Rutas-Turismo-TFE-NORTE-0465-1024x683.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWheels and windmills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Carretera Vieja<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/20230505-Rutas-Turismo-TFE-NORTE-0416-1024x683.webp\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLong climb<\/h2>\n\n\n\n