La Vuelta a España 2023
VUELTA BIKE TOUR - WEEK 1
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Barcelona, Andorra Pyrenees, Girona
7 days / 6 nights – Fully Guided & Supported
Luxury 4 star Hotels
From
€ 2495
LA VUELTA A ESPAÑA 2023
MECCAS OF PRO CYCLING TOUR
WEEK 1 – BARCELONA, ANDORRA PYRENEES, GIRONA
Join us for a great week of cycling as we take you to the Grand Depart of La Vuelta 2023 in Barcelona and then into the high Pyrenees of Andorra and onto Girona. A series of exciting stages, we offer you the chance to ride and see the La Vuelta, with official VIP status! This will be our 16th year of providing access to this incredible event – the most thrilling of the 3 Grand Tours consistently over recent years.
The route begins in Barcelona, a cultural icon set beside the sea. Cycle the opening time trial on closed roads before the pros, before riding Stage 2 from the inland mountains to the VIP finish at the coast. (Please enquire about seeing the first 2 stages only – non cycling package).
Test yourself on the tough climbs of Andorra, riding a stage finish on the category 1 summit finish at Arinsal. Extending our stay, enjoy ticking off the bucket list climbs of Rabassa and the Hors Category Gallina as we stay in the high Pyrenees! This is a cyclist’s paradise.
Then, we complete the adventure with 2 rides in Girona. Andorra and Girona are the home of many pro cyclists for a good reason – meccas of pro-cycling.
With VIP stage and behind the scenes access, your chance to have a close connection with the pro teams and Vuelta organisers, luxury hotels and the race route to cycle, this action packed fully guided and supported tour is a great taster of Grand Tour racing.
Dates
25 Aug 2023
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BARCELONA DEPART ONLY OPTION
See the Vuelta Depart, first 2 stages. Non cycling VIP access. Please ask!
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Watch LIVE and Ride 4 race stages of La Vuelta a España 2023
- 6 Ride days in the meccas of pro cycling
- Cycle the race route as a VIP, only hours before the Pros arrive
- VIP Access to stage finishes (drinks, tapas, big screen tvs at finish) and depart village
- Ride the Time Trial Depart in Barcelona on closed roads!
- The Pyrenees – category climbs Arinsal, Rabassa and the HC Gallina
- Ride Girona, home of pros such as Armstrong and Cavendish
- Tour of La Vuelta media, doping control and technical areas
- Cycle parklands, coastline, inland mountains of North Spain
- Fantastic luxury accommodation, fine local food
- Options for non cyclists to come along
CC Advantage
Podium photos and behind the scenes access – VIP status
Fully supported riding by experienced guides, including Vuelta a Espana masters rider and mix of male / female guides.
Enjoy a drink with an ex-pro and understand what it takes to ride a Grand Tour
Wonderful accommodation, great food, scenery and fun on the roads of Spain & Andorra
Local Spanish company with the best connections to La Vuelta
Receive a Cycling Country Vuelta race jersey by Santini
“The Vuelta tour was probably the best bike tour I have ever done. Ok the days were long, but your team gave us the best access I have ever had to a Grand Tour. The routes you designed to ride the best climbs and see the stage finishes were exceptional. Chapeau!”
Route Map
itinerary
Being fully guided and supported (our support vans are accredited to drive along the race route), you can cycle with the group or at your own pace.
Non cyclists are welcomed to enjoy the event (please enquire).
Day 1. BARCELONA ARRIVAL (BARCELONA)
Friday, 25 August 2023
Arrive in Barcelona at your leisure and meet at the centrally located 4 star hotel at 14:00 for an informal welcome meeting and drink.
After a bike setup to make sure everyone is comfortable, we will take a tour of Barcelona seeing the famous sights in the historic centre. Barcelona is one of Europe’s best cities to visit, with its world famous Sagrada Familia Cathedral by Gaudi. Enjoy the gothic quarter and Las Ramblas walkway. With La Vuelta being in town, the atmosphere will be building.
Enjoy a welcome group dinner of 3 courses with local wines as we get ready for a great week of riding.
(We recommend arriving before in Barcelona to see all the sights and museums.)
DAY 2. BARCELONA tiMe tRIAL – VIP STAGE 1 FINISH (BARCELONA)
26 August 2023 – 50km
After a good buffet breakfast, we head out from the hotel and ride a morning route along the coast. It’s an easy ride, just one to get the legs going. We take a diversion to see the Olympic Park of 1992 before heading back to the centre.
Today’s main event is the Grand Depart, which this year is Team Time Trial of 14.6km. This your amazing opportunity to ride the circuit on closed roads from the ramp, even before the pros have raced it! As we ride together, the pro teams will be warming up (i.e. riding pass us!). An unique experience. Cycle through the finish line and then we will get ready to enter the VIP finish line Hospitality Area where we have access, giving you the best viewpoint of the race. See the podium celebrations.
Tonight is free to explore the famous streets and restaurants of Barcelona.
To Explain – the VIP Hospitality Area – This is an exclusive part of our La Vuelta tour packages, where each of our cyclists have access with personalized accreditation given on a lanyard at the start of the tour. Here, enjoy just metres from the Meta Finish line, a viewing zone to see the riders finishing the stage, and preview the entire race before hand via large plasma TVs. The place to be at La Vuelta after riding the route! Also included is an open bar and tapas tasters for a real Spanish experience.
See more
Day 3. BARCELONA – VIP STAGE FINISH – (ANDORRA)
27 August 2023 – 100 km
A great day of riding awaits as we get to ride the race route of Stage 2. We will take a transfer out and enjoy the quieter roads of the mountains to the north west of Barcelona. We aim to ride the last 100km of the route ahead of the race. Although no big category climbs the ride is undulating and not as easy as maybe the profile suggests.
As we come close to Barcelona, the route goes over Montjuic – not long but definitely a climb! From here descend down to the stage finish back in Barcelona. Enjoy VIP Stage finish access and today we have arranged a special behind the scenes tour.
After watching the stage finish we will transfer north to Andorra (a longer van transfer) to be ready to ride tomorrow’s epic.
Before driving across the country border into Andorra (passports not needed!) we will stop en route to break the journey up.
Day 4. ANDORRA – VIP STAGE FINISH (ANDORRA LA VELA)
28 August 2023, 100km
We ride from our 4 star spa hotel to the race route. Andorra is such a special area to ride and the route today is magnificent. We soon come out the valley and start ascending the 1st category Ordino climb, a really scenic ascent with hairpins at the bottom. An average gradient of 7%, you soon find yourself at the summit.
A descent leads us to the next callenge of another Category 1 climb, the Arinsal. With the summit at nearly 2000m, this will certainly be the first significant change in the General Classification of the race. We will ride over the finish line and head into the VIP stage finish area to see the best views of the pros and the winner.
After the podium celebrations, we will cycle back down and head to our hotel. Have a free night out in Andorra’s capital (the highest in Europe!). Andorra has many restaurants, a large SPA complex (idea to soak those legs?), and lots of duty free shops. Or enjoy a massage at the hotel. With the pro teams in town, take a look at the mechanics of the teams prepping the bikes for tomorrow’s depart.
28 August 2023, 100kmDay 5. ANDORRA – VIP STAGE DEPART – FAMOUS PYRENEES CLIMBS (ANDORRA)
29 August 2023, 100km
Andorra is the home to over 60 professional cyclists for a good reason – a real mecca of pro cycling! It is the Pyrenees and the quiet mountain roads that they love to train on. And so today in the morning, will ride a beautiful climb, often used in La Vuelta – La Rabassa. It’s a great ascent and one for the bucket list. Long (17km), but a gentler gradient (6%) lets all of us enjoy the ride up into the high mountains. Thibaut Pinot last won here in 2018.
After descending, we see something a bit different today as we head to see a VIP stage Depart in the centre of the capital of Andorra. It’s a great spectacle and a chance to see all the background and workings of the La Vuelta and the professional teams. We see the pros depart as they start their journey south. However, we have decided to take advantage of this cyclist’s playground and spend more time here!
Post lunch, we have lined up a Hors Category challenge that is probably the best climb in Andorra – the Gallina. It’s an absolute classic. The Tour de France and La Vuelta have used it over the years and for a good reason. It’s scenic, but hard with an average grade of 8%, and is a great experience. The Gallina is one you will remember for a while!
Afterwards we will head back to our hotel, stopping en route to see the end of the stage today on tv. Enjoy a group dinner together.
To Explain – The Vuelta Depart Village is an added perk of our VIP hospitality package. Each day the teams must sign on to start the day in a presentation, but prior to this, the riders are warming up, giving interviews, signing autographs and prepping their bikes. As well, a presentation area of local businesses and sponsors have stands where we can get nibbles, drinks, gifts and as well enjoy the friendly Vuelta family atmosphere.
29 August 2023, 100km
Day 6. INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF GIRONA (GIRONA)
30 August 2023 – 90km
We depart Andorra in the morning with a van transfer of 2 hours. As La Vuelta is heading South, the journey time would be too long for us. Instead we are going to ride into Girona, another home of pro-cyclists! The route is epic as we set up and ride around 90kms into the town made famous as the home of riders such as Armstrong, Hincapie, Cavendish and David Millar.
Ride over the local mountains and descend into the medieval town. We will find a coffee shop to watch the end of today’s stage 5 with an expected sprint finish. Girona is much loved, with many bars, restaurants and of course cycling stores in the town centre. It’s a great place to wander around after a good day’s riding.
Tonight we will enjoy a celebratory group dinner.
30 August 2023 – 90kmDay 7. MORNING GIRONA RIDE & ONTO BARCELONA
31 August 2023 – 90km
It’s the final morning, but we are going to cram it all in and offer a morning ride out of Girona. Find out why cyclists love to ride here as we head out on a local climb before heading back for a midday check out.
After lunch, we take a 1.15hr transfer back to Barcelona (or stay in Girona and extend your stay) for mid afternoon.
We hope you have enjoyed this La Vuelta trip in the meccas of pro cycling!
Trip details
Road Cycling Tour – Guided
Bikes – Trek Carbon Road
Route: Barcelona, Andorran Pyrenees, Girona
Group Size – 4 to 10
7 days, 6 nights: 6 ride Days – 4 Live Stage days, VIP entrances and Stage Village Depart, Transfers to/from Barcelona.
Riding Level
Challenging – The tour is suitable for cyclists of all ages who have a good level of fitness and enjoy road biking – of course expect hills! There are category climbs and mountains for the rider who wants to challenge themselves, whilst our support van enables other riders to enjoy the trip without worrying as you can opt out of the bigger climbs. On the longer climbs everyone can ride at their own pace. There is the option for non-riders to come along.
Accommodation
Specially chosen quality 4 star hotels – all bedrooms are en-suite
Food
All breakfasts and 3 group dinners including wine, beer, soft drinks
Extras
- Cycling Country is one of the few official Tour Operators in the world designated to run this tour and we are proud to do so.
- VIP access to STAGE FINISHES and stage village DEPART. Including private race viewing area at finish line with complimentary drinks and tapas.
- We have access to the podium for your own photo, plus a behind the scenes tour. We enter areas that are off bounds to most and work with La Vuelta organisers ensuring your VIP experience is unique.
- Ride the race route crossing the finish line on race day (access that the public will not have).
- Get close to the pros – meet the stars of cycling
- Our vans are accredited to drive the race route – jump in for a rest if required
- Ride with experienced bi-lingual local guides, including the sub champion of Andalucía and a Vuelta a España Masters rider – we have run Vuelta tours for 16 years.
- Complimentary Cycling Country La Vuelta full zip cycling jersey by SANTINI
- Complimentary Cycling Country gifts, helmet bags, luggage tags, water bottles, Vuelta tshirt and cycling caps
- Route notes, maps, profiles, suggestions for dinner, etc.
- Daily snacks (including Organic Mule energy gels and bars, fruit and drinks)
Staff
At least 3 tour leaders (4 clients to 1 guide ratio) with full van support to provide support, refreshments, act as guides, offer tips and insights throughout the day, provide directional signs where required, transfer luggage and provide on-road assistance. A guide always cycles with the group. Company Owners are accompanying this trip
Bikes
We can arrange good quality road bike hire:
- Trek Emonda carbon, Shimano Ultegra, compact – 250 Euros extra
- Trek Emonda carbon, Shimano 105, compact – 195 Euros extra
- Orbea Gain M20 Road E-Bike, carbon frame, Shimano Ultegra – 400 Euros extra
*Please note if bringing own bike, there will be a 75€ bike box charge
Transfers
Transfers provided from central hotel in Barcelona at beginning/end
Terrain
Country and mountain roads. Rolling countryside with longer mountain climbs.
Lodgings
Reviews
“We returned to Andalucia for the 2018 La Vuelta having enjoyed the la Vuelta 2017 tour so much with Cycling Country.
We expected to repeat that enjoyment and we were not disappointed.
Great riding, great viewing, the best of hotels and food and an interesting and challenging group of cyclists.
Geoff and Maggi, our hosts, dedicated themselves 100% to our pleasure and comfort and were ably assisted by the two bike guides, Dean and Javi.
All participants have their own priorities. For some their own cycling, for others watching the professionals really close up and intimate.
For us it was a combination of those two, plus staying in such lovely hotels, you couldn’t find better, where we rubbed shoulders with the teams from Trek, Sky and Bahrain.
From the modern sophistication of our 4 star hotel in Malaga and the 5 star hotel in Granada to the stunning beauty of the Parador hotels in Ronda and Nerja.
The riding was hard and hot and, for the most part, great fun.
Anyone who says the last km of the 2540m Sierra Nevada climb is ‘fun’ doesn’t inhabit the same planet.
Nice climbs and even more spectacular descents, particularly the Puerto de Leon.
We look forward to next year’s tour with anticipation knowing that whatever the route, whatever the composition and size of the group, we will have fun.”J & P. Sharman, London, UK – La Vuelta 2018
“La Vuelta’s epic climbs – a truly spectacular and special cycling week with Cycling Country. Even in a country blessed with great places to ride, Andalusia stands out as a truly spectacular region. La Vuelta offers climbs that legends are made of. It offers beauty, brutality, drama and this year a piece of cycling history with Contador’s Angliru ending I would like to thank Cycling Country (CC) for the enthusiasm and vision in creating an outstanding week, and for their impeccable support with logistics. I love the accessibility and closeness CC provides to La Vuelta. You are never too far away from the pros. Meeting Fernanco Escartin, a former Spanish road racing cyclist, now responsible for route design and road selection, provided enormous insight in the running of La Vuelta. Having the group stay in the same hotels as the professional teams provided the opportunity to meet mechanics, support people and also the professionals. As an Italian supporting Vincenzo Nibali I was excited to know I was staying in the same hotel as the Bahrain-Merida team. Although following La Vuelta so closely I still managed to go out and enjoy the local custom. In Almeria I went really local by having a couple of drinks at Cafe Bar Nevada and dined at Cafe Puga. I think I was the only non-Spanish so you could not have found a more local place. I found similar places in Granada. Additionally the delightful place we stayed at in Zuheros was special – probably one of prettiest villages and scenery in Andalusia.The cycling was superb. Given that the whole area can become swamped by cyclists during the Vuelta I thought CC did a fantastic job to keep everyone on target. It is clear that this is a family run business with great knowledge of the area. The guides are all local and provide enormous support and valuable insight. A true pleasure to be able to spend time with them. Geoff and Maggie, the owners, should be immensely proud for how they contribute to La Vuelta and how they run CC. Their tours contribute towards establishing the Vuelta as one of the most dramatic tours. Hasta Luego!!!”
C. Salinardi, London, UK – La Vuelta 2017
“With Cycling Country we made our first cycling trip to Europe. Geoff, Dean, Javi and the rest of the crew made our rides and stay really happy. Balbino took care of my mom and showed her Spain while me and my brothers went riding, then we met at the finish line of La Vuelta stages. It was a terrific Trip and we will for sure do it again!!!”
D. Botero, Medellín, Columbia – La Vuelta 2017
“Awesome Vuelta a España tour, amazing VIP access, up close & personal with the riders! We recently did a Vuelta a Espana tour with Cycling Country, and had an amazing time. The tour was well-organized and thought out, with rider enjoyment in mind, both from the perspective of riding and spectating. The Spanish-based company clearly has a very close relationship with the race organizers, which is to the benefit of Cycling Country’s clients. The VIP access to starts and finishes, as well as the podium, were unbelievable. Because the race is smaller, it is also much more intimate, enabling access to the riders. The behind-the-scenes access and perspective was very interesting, as was the talk from a retired rider. This was our third time doing a trip with Cycling Country, and the reason we chose them for our Vuelta shadow tour. Previously we have done self-guided tours or fixed-stay trips, and have been very impressed and pleased with the company and the service it provides. Geoff and Maggi are wonderful people and it shows in their dealings with clients. We would definitely recommend Cycling Country for any of its tours, but especially the Vuelta a Espana tour!” A.Sauve & Tim, Coburg, Ontario – La Vuelta 2017
“The Vuelta tour was probably the best bike tour I have ever done. Ok the days were long, but your team gave us the best access I have ever had to a Grand Tour. The routes you designed to ride the best climbs and see the stage finishes were exceptional. Chapeau!” ” John, Ontario, Canada – La Vuelta 2016
“Let me write a few lines of thank you. I just can’t believe what a trip you gave us all! It was truly a cycling tour that I will never forget. Well done to all of the Cycling Country crew and thank you again for the good times. The Vuelta was the ride of my life.”
Steve, Sydney, Australia – La Vuelta 2015
“The Vuelta Tour 1 (Andalucia 2014) was memorable! The VIP access was exceptional, beyond my expectations. Cycling Country beautifully handled different levels of cycling abilities in the group in the smoothest way, the coordination among them was very professional and efficient, providing to the group an ongoing feeling of safety, support and fun. I will highly recommend them to all my friends and they honestly deserve to run such a successful business. Muchas Gracias for the extraordinary experience! “
Luisa, Colorado, USA – La Vuelta 2014
“Rob and I would like to take the opportunity to send you a big thank you for everything you organized for the tour. We had an amazing time. The ride routes where spectacular and the VIP access was fantastic. Dean and Javi were both lovely, very helpful and encouraging. We had the best time and keep reminiscing about the week wishing we were still in Andalusia. It definitely exceeded all our expectations and hopefully will see you at next years tour. Thank you again”
K. and R. Garland, Australia – La Vuelta 2014
Testimonials from previous cyclists are always available and we enjoy receiving the feedback after tours. It helps us improve our services and offer you an even better experience. Please feel free to contact us if you would like a reference to talk to. Others have also posted reviews on the independent travel website 
.
DATES & RATES
LA VUELTA A ESPAÑA 2023
FIRST WEEK
7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS
€ 2495
SINGLE SUPP. € 375
Discounts for 4+ booking together
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