Aug 2020 Tou r of Gran Canaria Explore this stunning island with sea views, cheeky climbs, varied landscapes and a fabulous climate. The perfect winter cycling holiday with Marmot Tours. Summary WHERE: Gran Canaria DISTANCE: to suit you TIME : 6 cycling days PRICE : see website DATES: Jan/Feb/Mar Tour of Gran Canaria Using the inside knowledge, experience and language skills of our late guide Pedro Mireles, who spent his childhood on Gran Canaria, we have carefully crafted one of our popular Classic Cols style itineraries to include the most scenic areas and challenging climbs on this stunning island in the Canaries. As you can see from the map, there are few places on the island that you won’t have the option of visiting; we’ve got all the best spots covered! Each day there are 'optional extras' increasing the possible Highlights daily ascent, making this holiday suitable for those looking to really push themselves and take on our Challenge Route as well as those preferring the gentler Classic Route. It is ideal for mixed ability Split across just two 4* groups or couples and even for non-cycling partners as there’s hotels with pools plenty to entertain them too. Unlike some other Marmot Trips which ‘move on’ each night, this Flexible itinerary to suit holiday is set across just 2 excellent 4* hotels, away from tourist everyone resorts, so also offers the opportunity for relaxing off the bike. 2 Marmot vehicles & Regardless of whether you opt for the Classic or the Challenge route (or a few days of either!) this week is definitely a ‘holiday’, riding on experienced, energetic quiet roads with stunning views of the coastline and mountainous guides interior of the island. The gradients, however, are cheekily steep! Winter sun: average of We offer Classic Cols holidays in the Alps, Picos, Dolomites, Pyrenees and in Corsica, Sardinia, Slovenia, Andalusia and 18 - 20 degrees Catalonia too, so do check our website for details. For cyclists new to the mountains, we suggest starting with our Tour of Tenerife & Teide or our Pyrenean Classics Route. Tour of Gran Canaria 1 Aug 2020 Day 2: Ingenio to Pico de las Nieves Itinerary The highlight of today's ride is the climb to Pico de las Nieves from its toughest side: a summit Day 0 - Travel Out finish to be ridden during La Vuelta España 2017. Included transfers from Gran Canaria airport to The climb to the top of the island from the south/ your 4* start hotel with pool (1hr). Meet your east is considered to be one of the most guides, assemble your bikes and have a welcome challenging climbs in Europe. It is as long as briefing and great dinner. Cycling to the hotel Galibier or Stelvio and ramps up like the Angliru from the airport through the mountains is an or Zoncolan: 23kms long with 1675m altitude gain option [45km, 1250m ascent], or transfer to the (including a brutal 5km long section at an hotel and go for a warm up ride from here [20km, average of 11% between La Pasadilla and 600m ascent circular loop]. Cazadores)! From the summit you descend through the pine Day 1: Barranco de Arguineguin & forest of Los Llanos de la Pez and the Natural Climb to Risco Grande & Ayacata Park of Roque Nublo which is a massive volcano chimney rock that also happens to be the symbol Descend from the hotel (975m) into the beautiful of Gran Canaria. You arrive in the town of palm tree oasis of Fataga. A short climb up to the Ayacata before continuing your loop to finish Degollada de las Yeguas follows, from where you back at the hotel. can enjoy the breathtaking views of the canyon. A quick, swooping descent takes you to the On the Challenge route the optional extra southern coastal road where you ride towards the features the 9km climb to the natural site of beautiful Barranco de Arguineguin. You'll be Barranco de Guayadeque (955m). Waiting for you tempted to take a plunge into the ocean but at the end of this long and beautiful road are almost as refreshing will be the gentle climb to some seriously cheeky gradients (10% and more) Cercados de Espino! That is, until you hit the as well as the Prehispanic troglodite cave 'wall' that is the 9km climb to Risco Grande (Paso dwellings and restaurants! de Tauro, 911m) with some serious ramps at 10, 12 and 14%! Easy route: [65km, 1000m ascent] From there, the road undulates (with an uphill bias!) for another 15km through remote pine Classic route: woods and the reservoir of Presa de las Niñas to Pico de las Nieves (from the SE) arrive at the picturesque crossroads town of [80km, 2000m ascent] Ayacata (1310 m). After a deserved lunch at any of the popular cyclist stops in Ayacata, it's just a Challenge route: gentle 'up & down' ride to reach the hotel at San Barranco de Guayadeque + Pico de las Nieves Bartolomé. (from the SE) [95km, 2800m ascent] The optional extra today is a 25km loop including a short punchy climb to Monteleon (Cima Pedro Day 3: Across the Island: Caldera de Gonzalez, 490 m) and a beautiful gentle descent Tejeda & Pinar de Tamadaba in the Barranco de Ayagaures, to discover the hidden oasis and idyllic palm tree islands of the Today you leave the mountain village of San reservoirs. Bartolomé de Tirajana behind and head towards the northwestern coastal town of Puerto de las Easy route: Nieves. Our route takes in some stunning and This includes a 4km transfer in the van to cut out varied scenery en route to the mountain hamlet the steepest section of the climb up to Risco of Cruz de Tejada, where a welcome restaurant Grande [81km, 1800m ascent] awaits. Classic route: The views down the road into this massive Risco Grande + Ayacata + Cruz Grande volcanic depression with its abrupt gorges will [85km, 2000m ascent] give you some insight into the challenges to come during the next few days. For now, you cycle Challenge route: through the ancient pine forest of Tamadaba Ayagaures + Risco Grande + Ayacata (1320m). You then descend on the greener [110 km, 2500m ascent] northern slopes of the island to reach sea level at Puerto de las Nieves. Tour of Gran Canaria 2 Aug 2020 From the hotel pool you can enjoy a beautiful Rosas (1240m) before joining the classic route at sunset & the cliffs of Anden Verde whilst the junction just before Cruz de Tejeda (1516m). psyching up for the following day’s challenges. The ‘gentle option’ is a short ride up the remote Valley of Agaete to explore the orange orchards, a The optional extra today is a circular loop coffee plantation or a local wine cellar at the foot of starting from Cruz de Tejeda (1560m) and taking the impressive cliffs of Tamadaba. The road finishes you back up to Pico de Las Nieves from the north. at El Sao (516m) just past the Mirador (527m) and This loop gives you a good insight into the leaves you plenty of time to return for a splash in different microenvironment of the heart of the the hotel pool. island. Easy route: Easy route: Barranco Agaete + El Sao [20km, 560m ascent] The easier option today cuts out the loops to Cruz de Tejeda (1560m) and Tamadaba (1315m) Classic route: [70km, 1200m ascent] Laguna de Valleseco + Cruz de Tejeda + Mirador de Pico de la Gorra [80km, 2000m ascent] Classic route: El Aserrador + Cruz de Tejada + Pinar de Challenge route: Tamadaba [95km, 1600m ascent] La Laguna + Cruce de Ariñez + Las Rosas + Cruz de Tejeda + Mirador de Pico de la Gorra + Mirador Challenge route: de Pinos De Galdar [125km, 2900m ascent] El Aserrador + Cruz de Tejeda + Las Nieves + Tamadaba [120km, 2700m ascent] Day 5: Anden Verde, Valley of the Tears Day 4: Roller-coaster Ride in the Green & Pico de las Nieves (from the west) North: Las Medianias, Montañon You have a big day ahead! You undulate along an impressive coastal road this morning through the Negro & Pinos de Galdar Parque Natural Tamadaba along to Los Caserones Discover the green lush valleys, terraces and the - with the option of nipping up to the viewpoint of infamous ‘leg-breaking’ roads of the ‘Medianias’ Mirador del Balcon (360m) as you go. Los in the North of Gran Canaria. Rising up from Caserones is the official start of The Valley of The its surroundings is the highlight of the day, Tears - a wild and remote climb, renowned for its Roque Nublo, viewed from Mirador de Pico de la punishing gradients: 10.8km with an average 9%! Gorra (1625m), your high point of the day. You arrive here on an ‘uphill bias’ ticking off La From the top at El Aserrador (1350m) the road Laguna (890m) and Cruz de Tejeda (1516m) as flattens for a bit, passing Ayacata, a perfect lunch you go. spot for cyclists. The classic route takes you from here to the familiar and welcoming hotel in San A long and in places undulating descent takes you Bartolomé de Tirajana. past Mirador de Pinos De Galdar (1340m) all the way back to sea level & your hotel in Puerto de las The optional challenge ride today means climbing Nieves. all the way from the sea to the top of the island at Pico de las Nieves (1950m) using the road from The optional extra on the Challenge Route takes Ayacata to the Natural Monument of Roque Nublo. you off to further explore the valleys and barrancos It's an extra 11km climb with tough hairpin bends on this lesser known area of the island.