Vuelta a Espana 2010
Bikestyle Tours has been running trips to the Vuelta a Espana every year since 2002 making us one of the most experienced and consistent companies to see this great race with!
If you are looking for a more relaxed cycling holiday but would still like to take in one of the world’s great races you should try the Vuelta!
Register for 2010 Vuelta a Espana Updates
The Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) is our favourite trip and our 2010 Vuelta trip will again be no exception with luxurious hotels, beautiful scenery and exciting racing.
TRIP DETAILS:
Trip Duration: 11 days, 10 nights
Dates: Friday, 10 to Monday, 20 September
Start-Finish: Madrid Bajaras Airport
Accommodation: 4 and 5 Star Exclusive Hotels
Group Size: Maximum 20 people (4 Staff)
Cost: $4950.00 Australian Dollars (Single Supplement $1070.00)
Deposit: AUD $1000.00
Note: All trip costs are per person, not including airfare and based on two persons per room.
Reserve this Trip Now
Optional Extras:
Bike Rental $600 (Cannondale Synapse carbon fibre)
Pre or post tour accommodation to extend your stay
Travel Insurance and Car Rental.
Email us for details
Our Trip
Our 2010 Vuelta trip will follow the last exciting final 10 days of the 2010 edition as it makes it’s way back towards Madrid from the northern coastline of Asturias and the Picos Europas into the Castilla y Leon region near Valladolid and the Guadarrama mountains near Segovia. The trip will include multiple night stays visiting some of Spains most beautiful cities, Oviedo, Leon and Segovia, not to mention Madrid.
Our accommodation while on the road will include some modern hotels along with restored and modernised historical buildings that have been converted to luxury hotels, one being a unique 5 star Parador.
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 including the gruelling slopes of the Angliru and the beautiful mountains near Madrid including the new climb of Bola del Mundo.
Our trip will be fully escorted (including rides each day) by Spanish and English speaking guides.
Bikestyle Tours 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 our guides.
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 but just want to catch up with the Vuelta. To cater for this quite diverse group of people we offer options on most days.
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
- The Only Time Trial
- Great Cycling!
- Exclusive Hotels
- Relaxed Environment
- Beautiful Spain
- Personal Attention
Vuelta a Espana 2010 Itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
Friday, 10 September 2010
Rincón de Soto – Burgos
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 is the medieval centre 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.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Madrid
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Burgos – Peña Cabarga
This morning we will be on the road to Oviedo and our 5 star hotel in the beautiful and lively city centre where we will catch up with the race tomorrow at Lagos de Covadonga.
Our drive to Oviedo will take around 5 hours however the scenery is quite special and we will show some movies to pass the time, not to mention taking the opportunity to catch up on some sleep.
On our way we will stop for some tourist breaks and schedule a ride in the afternoon from our hotel. This will help to loosen the legs up for tomorrow’s stage.
This evening we will have dinner and a rest in anticipation for our first day of viewing at the Vuelta a España.
Non Cyclists will have the afternoon to look around Oviedo.
Oviedo is the capital of Asturias. Despite its high concentration of industry and mining, the area has unspoiled scenery. Only 26km (16 miles) from the coast, Oviedo is very pleasant in summer, when much of Spain is unbearably hot. It makes an ideal base for excursions along the Costa Verde.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Oviedo
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Solares – Lagos de Covadonga
Today we are in a good position to ride part of the course before the race and watch it at the finish or at the bottom of the climb where the bus will be located until the finish of the race. Our options are a 120klm ride to the top of the final climb and returning to the bus at the base, a 70klm from the hotel to the base or a 50klm ride from the base along the course to the finish at Lagos de Covadonga.
The scenery (as well as the race) will be spectacular today! Today’s stage will be a decisive day with the finish at the top of Lagos de Covadonga.
The Picos de Europa has an exceptional landscape, where high summits alternate with deep gorges and canyons. The park boasts 200 peaks of over 2,000 metres and vertical drops of over 2,300 metres and is intermingled with meadows, hillside forests, beech and oak groves and moors. The famous Covadonga lakes can be found here and the final spectacular climb of the day is located here. This will be our destination today.
After the race we will return to our 5 star hotel in Oviedo.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Oviedo
Monday, 13 September 2010
Gijón – Cotobello
The final day in the Cantabrian Mountains will culminate with a summit finish at the newcomer Cotobello. This will be the Queen stage with three Cat 1 climbs. San Lorenzo, with 14% and 15% gradients followed by La Cobertoria, averaging an 8.6% gradient and to finish off there is Cotobello with its gradients of up to 12%, averaging 8.1%.
Today we are close to the course so both of our ride options will begin with a ride from the hotel to intersect the course and ride part of the course.
The first option will be to ride down, meet the course and ride the final 50 klms including the two final Category 1 climbs, La Cobertoria and then the final climb of Cotobello, see the finish and then return to meet the bus at Moreda for trip back to the hotel. This will be a hard 90 klms.
The second option will ride to Pola de Lena (skipping La Cobertoria and then ride the Category 1 final climb of Cotobello to see the finish and then return to meet the bus at Moreda for trip back to the hotel. This will be a difficult 50 klms.
Be sure to save something for the special surprise tomorrow…
Non cyclists will have the option to spend the day in Oviedo or spend the morning in Oviedo and then go to Moreda to see the race near the final climb.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Oviedo
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Rest Day
Rest Day for those soft pro’s that is…
Today you can ride one of the most difficult climbs you will ever do! The ascent of the mega-mountain: Alto El Angliru.
Alto El Angliru, a steep 1570 metre climb that ends with gradients of over 20%. The climb has a fearsome reputation and you can add it to your resume if you wish.
“The climb is extremely tough, almost inhuman” Oscar Sevilla said once.
We will go out to La Vega-Riosa at the base of the climb by bike as it’s only 20 kilometres making a good warm up distance. This climb is the hardest in Europe and strikes fear into all professional cyclists except the absolute best climbers. Recommended gearing for this climb is 39 x 29 and this is what the pros use!
If you don’t feel up to riding the climb you will be able to ride part of the climb or wait for the group and continue onto Pola de Lena.
After the ride we will go to Pola de Lena to meet the bus and head to Leon and our 5 star Parador de Leon (one of the best in Spain) to finish off a momentous day in style.
Leon was once the leading city of Christian Spain, this old cathedral town was the capital of a centuries-old empire that declined after uniting with Castile. León today is the gateway from Old Castile to the north western routes of Galicia. It is a sprawling city but nearly everything of interest to visitors — monuments, restaurants, and hotels — can be covered on foot once you arm yourself with a good map.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Leon
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Peñafiel – Peñafiel (ITT)
This will be La Vuelta’s first and only individual time trial. Expect a change in the order today as riders try to gain the ascendancy leading into the final few days.
Home of the “Ribera del Duero” wine region, Peñafiel will be the starting and finishing point for the stage that will run through its famous vineyards.
This morning we will leave Leon and drive to Peñafiel to see the time trial. We will stop on our way and ride the final 60 or 70 kms to Peñafiel with the possibility of riding part of the course depending on time.
After the race we will travel the short distance to our hotel in Valladolid by bike or bus.
From the 13th century until its eventual decay in the early 17th century, Valladolid was a royal city and an intellectual centre attracting saints and philosophers. Isabella and Ferdinand were married here, Philip II was born here, and Columbus died here on May 19, 1506, broken in spirit and body after Isabella had died and Ferdinand refused to reinstate him as a governor of the Indies.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Valladolid
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Valladolid – Salamanca
For Valladolid, this will be the thirty-fourth time that a stage starts from this city. On April 29, 1935, the first stage of La Vuelta a España was held, and Valladolid was the city hosting the stage finish.
This will be a flat stage for the sprinters. The only threat the pack may have to deal with on this stage is the wind.
Race starts are great to see. The teams arrive with their team vehicles with their roofs full of bikes and team buses with the riders safely tucked inside being given last minute instructions from their directors. After instructions they must do what is called “sign on” where they sign a start sheet. The rule is no signature, no start. The riders will ride their bikes to the podium where the crowds gather to see their heroes. So some good places to gather are near the team buses or somewhere between the bus and sign on. Normally the stars and the race leader sign on towards the end so be patient.
Then after all the ritual it’s time to go. The riders go to the start to begin their long day in the saddle. The race always leaves on time with the first part of the race being a neutral period to get them safely out of town.
After the race leaves we will also depart for Segovia. It’s a rideable distance to Segovia (about 90kms) however we will see what time the race leaves before deciding whether to ride all or part of the way.
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.
The old quarters along with its Roman aqueduct are World Heritage Sites. This is where our 4 star hotel is situated. It began life as a monastery and is situated in the heart of Segovia. It 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.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Segovia
Friday, 17 September 2010
Piedrahita – Toledo
Today we will skip the race in order to do one of our favourite rides. Our ride will take us from Segovia towards the finish of tomorrow’s stage up the Alto Navacerrada in the same direction as they will first climb it. 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!
We will be back in Segovia in time for an afternoon stroll of the town and to see the race finish on TV if you wish. I think a well earned beer might be on the minds of a few of us.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Segovia
Saturday, 18 September 2010
San Martín de Valdeiglesias – Bola del Mundo
A new stage for La Vuelta a España’s 75th Anniversary Celebration. The penultimate stage of the 2010 Vuelta is not going to leave anyone doubting!
Starting out from San Martín de Valdeiglesias, the first climb to be overcome will be the Cruz Verde which will be the simplest of the day. As of this point, everything gets tough. First, the Alto del León and then the Navacerrada but this time it won’t be the finish line. The race will descend again to the town of Guadarrama to then make its way back up to end at the “Alto de la Guarramillas, better known as the “Bola del Mundo”. This new ascent is a continuation of the Navacerrada Pass with three kilometres more and up to 12.5% gradients promising to become a quite a milestone in the history of La Vuelta a España.
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.
This morning we will leave Segovia on the bikes and ride the course to the finish at Bola del Mundo via the final two climbs of the day, the Alto del Leon and the Alto Navacerrada with the final to Bola del Mundo, see the race finish and then drop down to La Granja and then to Segovia making a ride of around 110km.
Or we can ride from the hotel to La Granja and up the Alto Navacerrada and then to Bola del Mundo from the prettier more treed side where you can ride up to the top, see the race finish and then drop down to La Granja and then to Segovia making a ride of around 60km.
Tonight we will have our final dinner together at a very old and famous restaurant in Segovia.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Segovia
Sunday, 19 September 2010
San Sebastián de los Reyes – Madrid
La Vuelta ends again in the capital of Spain in the Paseo de la Castellana which can be compared to 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. A suggested area to visit would be the Plaza Major and the many streets and alley ways around there.
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.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Madrid
Monday, 20 September 2010
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.
Meals: Breakfast
See our 2009 Vuelta Trip and others by clicking here!
Reserve your Place for the 2010 Vuelta a Espana
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Purchase your International Travel Insurance here. - * We charge for our trips in Australian Dollars (AUD) and prices shown in other currencies are only approximate. We advise that you check the exchange rate before booking.
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Register for 2010 Vuelta a Espana Updates
