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TRIP DETAILS:
Trip Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
Dates: Monday, 14 to Monday, 21 September
Start-Finish: Madrid Bajaras Airport
Accommodation: 4 Star Exclusive Hotels
Group Size: Maximum 20 people (4 Staff)
Cost: $3950 Australian Dollars
Deposit: AUD $1000
Note: All trip costs are per person, not including airfare and based on two persons per room.

The Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) is our favourite trip and our 2009 Vuelta trip will again be no exception with luxurious hotels, beautiful scenery and exciting racing.

Our Trip

Our 2009 Vuelta trip will follow the last exciting week of the final Grand Tour of 2009 as it makes it’s way back up from the south into the Castilla-La Mancha region near Toledo and crossing over the Sierra de Gredos into Castilla y Leon with a visit to Avila and the Guadarrama mountains near Segovia. The trip has been designed to have minimal transfers (the longest being 100km or 60mls)and multiple night stays in two of Spains most beautiful cities, Toledo and Segovia.

We will begin our trip in Madrid and spend multiple nights in the must see towns of Toledo and Segovia. Our accommodation while on the road are restored and modernised historical buildings that have been converted to luxury hotels.

Eat some great Spanish food and enjoy yourself in a relaxed environment with some excellent race viewing, great riding, terrific sightseeing and personal service.
Ride parts of the course, challenge yourself on the climbs and through the beautiful mountains near Madrid.

Our trip will be fully escorted (including rides each day) by our Spanish guide Carlos Canizares. Carlos is from Oviedo although he now lives in Madrid and is a great guide who is always willing to help you along the way with whatever you need.

Bikestyletours have been organising cycling trips to Europe since 1996 and this is our ninth trip to the Vuelta a Espana. Over those years we have learnt a lot and our knowledge is supported by the Spanish expertise of Carlos.

Whilst our trip is primarily based on the Vuelta a Espana it will cater for non-cycling partners too, with bus trips to strategic locations along the course and visits to tourist spots while the cyclists do what cyclists do!

Our trips are designed to give excellent quality, value for money cycling holidays with the emphasis on cycling while not forgetting to enjoy what our destinations have to offer.

We like to ensure our travellers get a complete experience of the areas they visit from cycling to tourism and culture – not to forget the shopping and eating!
We have found that our trips attract cyclists of differing ability as well as people who do not ride and but just want to catch up with the Vuelta. To cater for this quite diverse group of people we offer options on most days.

See Photos from our previous Trips

Our Rides

Experience tells us that people who come on our trips have quite different goals and the range of capabilities on the bike vary from those who are race fit and want to see what it is like on a hard day at the Vuelta to people who ride infrequently and just want to stretch their legs. So each day we offer rides to suit most people with 2 or 3 options varying from 40km to 120km depending on terrain. Our rides are planned around the Vuelta and often involve rides along the course ahead of the race or through a scenic part of the area we visit.

We also like to ensure our travellers get a complete experience of Spain from cycling to tourism and culture – not forgetting the wining and dining!

Trip Highlights:

• The mountain stages of the Vuelta a Espana
• Great Cycling!
• Exclusive Hotels
• Relaxed Environment
• Beautiful Spain
• Personal Attention

Who Is This Trip For?

Anyone with an interest in Cycling and would like to do it with comfort and style. The daily rides are designed to suit cyclists of all abilities and vary between serious to relaxed and will often be on the race course ahead of the race and along scenic roads.
We also cater for Non Cyclists with visits to the race and staying in beautiful towns and villages.

Enquire about the Vuelta here.

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Detailed Itinerary

Monday, 14 September 2009, Jaen – Cordoba
Our Own Vuelta will start by collecting you from the airport in Madrid today and taking you to our 4 star in downtown Madrid for the night before we depart for our short drive to Toledo tomorrow.

Most likely you will arrive in the morning and will have some time for a rest and a walk around Madrid before returning to watch the race on Television later in the afternoon.Madrid is a city of great monuments. Among its highlights are the medieval center dating back to the Habsburg Empire and the Prado Museum. Our hotel is just near the Prado Museum, on everyone’s list of the five great art museums in the world. Also nearby is the Thyssen Museum, showcasing one of the great private collections of modern times.
But Madrid is not just a cultural destination. It is also a lively metropolis with many pubs, cafes, discotheques and nightclubs open late into the night.

Tonight we’ll dine together and get to know each other over a cerveza or a glass of Rioja.

Restaurants in Madrid don’t usually open until 8.30pm so you may need a snack to tide you over to dinner. After dinner it will be off to bed as we will need an early start in the morning.

Overnight: Madrid
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Tuesday, 15 September 2009, Cordoba – Puertollano
This morning we’ll be on the road straight after breakfast to Toledo.

Toledo is one of the luxuries found in Spain. Its privileged location and the natural turn of the Tagus River, together with its continuous population from ages ago create a unique city in which beautiful and harmonious buildings with an array of architectural styles. In its medieval past Toledo appears as one of the cradles of Western culture through its Toledan School of Translators which in itself is an example of the tolerance and coexistence of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian cultures. Our 4 star hotel for the next two nights is set in one of the most beautiful and well-known areas of Toledo, next to the River Tajo and with panoramic views of the city.

Today’s riding:
It is just a one hour drive from Madrid to Toledo. When we are out of the traffic of Madrid we will drop you off for a 60-80km ride to the hotel along some quiet scenic roads with a couple of hills near the end. This will allow you time to look around this beautiful city in the afternoon.
Tonight we will have dinner in Toledo.

Overnight: Toledo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Wednesday, 16 September 2009, Ciudad Real – Talavera de la Reina
Today we will leave our hotel by bike or vehicle to the finish at Talavera de la Reina. With the relaxed atmosphere of the Vuelta you will be free to wander amongst the team vehicles and have your photo taken with your favourite rider.

It will be possible to have a look around Toledo this evening however if you wanted to have a good look it may be better to spend the day here today instead of going to the race. This is the reason we chose Toledo for a two night stay.

Today’s riding:
We will be able to ride from the hotel and meet up with the course riding the last part to the finish. There will be the option of a 110km ride or a 70km ride with a few hills but nothing too severe. The 70km ride may be shorter but it does have a few more hills. After the race we will transported back to Toledo.

Overnight: Toledo
Meals: Breakfast

Thursday, 17 September 2009, Talavera de la Reina – Avila
This is a difficult mountain stage in this year’s Vuelta. It will cross the beautiful Gredos mountain range with the climbs of the Alto Pielago, Pto. de Mijares, Alto Mediano and the new Alto de Boqueron before arriving in Avila.

Avila, a World Heritage Site, rises under the shelter of the Gredos Sierra. Behind the walls of this capital of Castile-Leon, a priceless compound is concealed, made up of Renaissance churches and palaces: a silent witness to the bygone splendour of the city when it was a textile power.

Today’s riding:
We will again ride part of the course today but how much depends on you. It is possible to do rides of approx 120km or 70km. However if you want to skip the last climb and take a short cut to the finish making a flatter ride it is possible.

The 120km ride will begin in the valley near Escalona heading steadily uphill until we get to El Barraco from where we will ride the final 70km of the course with the last two climbs of the day, Alto Mediano and the Alto de Boqueron.
And the 70km ride will start at El Barraco and be on the course for the whole ride including the last two climbs of the day, Alto Mediano and the Alto de Boqueron.

All roads will lead to beautiful Avila where we will see the finish. We expect the race will enter the walled city via the cobbled climb through the gates making a spectacular entrance.

After the race there will be a short drive to our hotel for the next three nights in the beautiful town of Segovia.
Segovia is a World Heritage Site and a visit to the city is a must both for the beautiful old buildings and also of the artistry of the interiors. The original walls are largely intact and three of the original gates to the city have been retained.
One of the features of the town is the well preserved roman aqueduct which brought water to the inhabitants from 15 kms away.

Our 4 star hotel for the next 3 nights began life as a monastery. It is situated in the heart of Segovia and has been painstakingly renovated and converted into a luxury hotel. The hotel is a mix of the traditional and the avant-garde and many original features have been preserved to maintain the architectural value of this building declared a national monument.

Overnight:Segovia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Friday, 18 September 2009, Avila – La Granja.
Because of our location not far from the finish and the major climbs of the stage we have numerous opportunities for different rides. It’s a very pretty area around here so we will have a nice day out on the bike.

Here are two that should satisfy you.

Today’s riding:
This morning we will leave Segovia on the bikes and ride the course to the finish at La Granja via the first two climbs of the day, the Alto del Leon and the Alto Navacerrada. 70km later we will arrive at the top of the Alto Navacerrada where we can have a coffee and something to eat while waiting for the race to pass and then drop down the climb to meet the vehicles and see the finish of the race. This will make a ride of approx 90km with two good climbs and one small climb. To make a neat 100km you can ride back to the hotel!

Or we could take you to the base of the Alto Navacerrada where you can ride up to the top, see the race pass and then drop down to see the finish in La Granja making a ride of around 50km with the option of a further 10km ride back to the hote.

As we said though there are other options if you prefer something different.

After we see the finish of this final mountains stage we will go our hotel in Segovia just ten kilometres away by bike or car.

Overnight: Segovia
Meals: Breakfast

Saturday, 19 September 2009, Toledo – Toledo (C.R.I.)
Today is the final time trial of the Vuelta however the organisers have chosen to make it 150km away in Toledo which left us with the decision to drive the 150km to Toledo to see the race or have a nice ride in the beautiful mountains near here and also give us some time to look around Segovia. So we chose the latter!

As ex professional and now Sports director for Caisse d’Epargne, Neil Stephens always tells us, time trials are best watched on television. That way you get all the info with time checks and where each rider is.

Today’s riding:
Our ride will take us from Segovia towards the finish of yesterday’s stage and then up the Alto Navacerrada in the opposite direction. We will then follow the ridge along beautiful roads before turning left to go up the Puerto de Navafria. Once over the climb it will be mostly downhill back to Segovia making a ride of 115km.
As an easier option we can take you to the top of the Puerto de Navacerrada and then follow the same course as the other ride making a ride of approx 80km of which the first 25 are downhill with the Puerto de Navafria after that!

Overnight: Segovia
Meals: Breakfast

Sunday, 20 September 2009, Rivas-Vaciamadrid – Madrid
One of the reasons we stay out of Madrid until Sunday is the opportunity for you to have one last ride so this morning we will head for a 50km ride before heading back to the hotel to pack our bikes and head into Madrid.

La Vuelta ends again in the capital of Spain in the Paseo de la Castellana which can be comparedto the Champs Elysees in Paris.
Our hotel is situated near the Paseo de la Castellana and only a short walk away from the course.
The race will finish in its traditional place near the Plaza de Cibeles which is also not far from the hotel so it will be your choice as to how you spend your day.

The riders traditionally enter the Paseo de la Castellana around 4pm and the race finishes around
5.15pm. We will leave Segovia around 12.00pm in order to arrive in Madrid to check into our rooms and go to see the finish.
We won’t need to move too far today. After the race there will be plenty of time to see the Jerseys presented to the winners and browse amongst the team vehicles and riders before returning to the hotel or continuing onto the Plaza Major.

We will have dinner in a restaurant in down town Madrid and afterwards you will free to make the most of the night to have a good look around Madrid.
A suggested area to visit would be the Plaza Major and the many streets and alley ways around there.

Today’s riding:
This morning we will head for a 50km ride before heading back to the hotel to pack our bikes and head into Madrid.

Overnight: Madrid
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Monday, 21 September 2009
Unfortunately all good things come to an end!
This morning we head our separate ways but we hope to see you again soon.
We will have a bus available to shuttle people to the airport during the day.

Tour cost: AUD $3950 per person twin share and includes:

• Transport throughout by private vehicles with custom bike racks.
• Services of experienced tour guides and our driver.
• Transfers on 14th September from Madrid airport to our hotel
• Transfer on 21 September to Madrid airport or train station
• Accommodation, in selected 4 hotels (with private facilities).
• Buffet breakfast daily
• 3 course evening meals on 4 nights
• Mechanical assistance with your bike
• Sightseeing as listed
• Maps and Bikestyle guide to the Vuelta a Espana