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Madrid, La Rioja, Basque Country, Cantabria, Mountains of Asturias, Madrid
8 days − Fully Supported & Guided
4 STAR HOTELS
From
€ 3495
Famous Vuelta Climbs of the North
So here it is! The 2nd week that hits all the highs. Come with us and encounter what we believe will be the decisive stages of this year’s Vuelta 2025. An explosive tour to experience the Key Mountain stages in the famous mountains of North Spain. This where this year’s race could be turned upside down, on the big climbs of Asturias. The mountain passes you will ride are famous in Vuelta cycling, and the category climbs aplenty.
And you will need to get your climbing legs ready as we head to the hardest climb in the world on the Pro circuit – the incredible Hors Category Angliru! Be there on race day on the craziest of Vuelta stages. With the Farrapona Cat 1 finish the day after in the beautiful Somiedo Park, this is a week not to be missed. Plus, you will ride the roads of La Rioja vineyards to this year’s finish at a ski station, a VIP day around the Basque Country mountains of Bilbao, and as an added bonus, the most famous climb in Spain to conquer – Covadonga.
These will be the climbs where new legends are born. With VIP access at the finish lines and some beautiful roads to pedal, this tour encompasses everything La Vuelta stands for: passion, emotion and a great spectacle! A truly amazing itinerary focusing on the climbs.
Dates
1 Sep 2025
%
Riding Level
Challenging (Moderate with van support / ebike)
90KM Daily Average
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Watch LIVE and ride 4 stages of La Vuelta a España 2025
- Challenge yourself on the Angliru – the toughest Grand Tour climb!
- 6 ride days including La Rioja & Farrapona mountain stage finishes
- Extra famous Vuelta climbs included of Covadonga Lakes & the big one last year, Cuitu Negru
- VIP Access to stage finishes (drinks, tapas, big screen tvs at finish line), viewing areas and VIP Stage Depart Village
- Cycle the race route as a VIP, only hours before the Pros arrive
- Access to ride across the finish line on race day
- Tour of the media area, podium, doping controls and technical areas
- Enjoy a drink with an ex-pro and understand what it takes to ride a Grand Tour
- Enjoy the sights of La Rioja vineyards, Bilbao, Cantabrian Coastline, Picos, Asturias and Oviedo. Options for non cyclists
THE CC ADVANTAGE
Podium photos and behind the scenes access – VIP status
Fully supported riding by experienced guides who cycle with you, inc. Vuelta a Espana masters rider & mix of male / female guides
1 guide for every 4 guests
Fantastic accommodation, food, scenery and fun on the roads of Spain
The itinerary has been planned to maximize the most diverse riding / viewing of La Vuelta
Receive your complimentary Cycling Country La Vuelta jersey by SANTINI, the red jersey makers
The best contacts and connections with the race, teams and organisers
“I want to thank you for the fantastic experience you gave Alex and I.
It will be something we will always remember.
You and Geoff were excellent hosts and the riding and VIP experience was outstanding.
Thanks for all you did to make it so great.
Thanks again for everything.”
Route Map
itinerary
DAY 1. Monday 01 September 2025 – Arrival (Madrid)
Arrive to the Spanish capital Madrid at your leisure. Your luxury hotel is the boutique Petit Palace Alfonso XII. Located in the heart of Madrid beside the Retiro Park with its gardens and lake, and walking distance to world famous museums including the Prado. Today is an arrival day and so we will all officially meet tomorrow morning. Enjoy the afternoon exploring Madrid and her sights.
Day 2. Vineyards & Mountain Stage Finish in La Rioja – Warm Up (Bilbao)
50 km / 31 miles
After breakfast, meet and transfer out of Madrid north (3.5 hrs) to the famous wine region of La Rioja. Stopping en route for coffee, we arrive in the vineyards. After a bike set and making sure everyone is comfortable, we head out on a warm up ride.
It’s a rest day for the Pros with no live race action so instead we will ride the last climb of Stage 9 (from 2 days ago) to the finish line at the ski station. A beautiful start as we pedal along a valley and then head up the cat 1 climb. Admire the views over La Rioja with a sweeping downhill, before we take a late lunch in a medieval village full of charm.
Transfer onwards to Bilbao (1 hr) to our 4 star hotel in the centre. Enjoy a group welcome dinner together as we look forward to an amazing Vuelta week ahead.
See more
Day 3. Basque Country Climbs – VIP Finish (Bilbao)
100km / 62m
Today we experience our first interaction with La Vuelta live. Stage 11 is a brilliant circuit and you will be there to see it. We head out from our hotel and ride some scenic roads into the green and lush province of the Basque Country. We are now only hours in front of the peloton cycling the same asphalt they will be soon! We start the cat 2 climb of the Alto de Vivero, a short but steep ascent (the pros ride it twice!) before we ride over the final Alto de Pike down to the centre of Bilbao.
Crossing the finish line with our special accreditation, we enter the VIP Hospitality Zone, and get ready for the race to arrive. Being a hilly stage, there could be a breakaway that succeeds. An exciting end is predicted.
After the race has finished and we’ve seen the podium presentations, we ride back to our hotel. Enjoy an evening exploring Bilbao and her world famous cuisine. Start with a few pintxos (tapas) before sampling anything from Michelin starred fare to a local seafood stew. Take a stroll alongside the river and view the impressive and shiny Guggenheim museum and the modern art sculptures outside.
To explain, the VIP Hospitality Area – This is an exclusive part of our La Vuelta tour packages, where each of our cyclists have access to the VIP zone, with a personalized accreditation given on a lanyard at the start of our tour. Here, just metres from the Finish line, see the race finale live, preview the stats, and watch the ongoing race beforehand via large plasma TVs before it arrives! Also included is an open bar and tapas tasters for a real Spanish experience. We have access to podiums, press areas, and doping controls.
Day 4. Laredo – VIP stage Depart and Lakes of Covadonga (Cangas de Onis)
up to 100km / 62m
A change of pace today as instead of the finish, we go to the stage depart. With VIP access, we will enter the village and see the riders getting prepared for their day’s work. See the sign-on and the team buses with riders on rollers warming up. It’s a great opportunity to be close to the riders and see your favourite rider! The setting for the depart is the stunning beach resort of Laredo, on the Cantabrian coastline.
After the race departs we have decided to take advantage of the area and let you ride probably the most mythical and beautiful climb in Spain, the Hors Category Lakes of Covadonga. Its amazing scenery takes us through the protected parkland of the Picos de Europa. With the climb averaging 7% and ramps upto 15%, we may not fully appreciate the landscape until we can take a breath at the top! A stunning climb that finishes with clear blue lakes at the summit. The scene of many famous Vuelta battles, we were here last year on race day to see Marc Soler take the stage win.
Descending the climb, we cycle to our luxury hotel, with views out to the surrounding mountains. Enjoy a group dinner tonight in the highly acclaimed restaurant.
To Explain – The Vuelta Depart Village is an added perk of our VIP hospitality package. Each day the teams 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. With our VIP passes, we have access to an area of local businesses and patrons who have stands where we can get nibbles, drinks and gifts and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.
Day 5. Angliru VIP Summit Finish (Oviedo)
up to 90km / 56m
After a hearty buffet breakfast we take a short transfer of 30 minutes to place us on the race route of stage 13 – unlucky for some as today is the infamous Angliru! It’s a climb on everyone’s bucket list, being the toughest ascent in any Grand Tour.
Asturias is the heartland of Spanish cycling and many passionate fans will be out in force roadside cheering you on. After we ride the Cordal climb, we take a breather for what lies ahead. It’s a brute of a climb, and the Hors Category Angliru never fails to disappoint. Strong riders will make it to the top in one go, but many of us will stop, take a rest and try to climb as much as is possible! Fortune has it that the VIP hospitality zone is half way up before the steepest sections. After enjoying the electric atmosphere on the mountain and the Queen stage of this year’s Vuelta, ride back down before heading to Oviedo, the capital of Asturias.
Take a group dinner in our 4 star team hotel. Watch the mechanics of a pro team service the bikes for tomorrow’s stage. It’s an amazing sight to see the unsung stars of the cycling teams work late into the night.
Day 6. VIP Stage Summit Finish – Farrapona (Oviedo)
up to 100km / 62m
From our hotel, we head to the stage route. It’s one of the most scenic days of riding as we head into the Somiedo Park. It’s another area La Vuelta often features, and after riding it, you will know why. It’s great scenery all the way as aim to cycle the last 3 climbs. The future winner of La Vuelta will have to show today as losing too much time in the general classification will be difficult to recover.
After riding over the cat 3 Alto de Tenebreo (option to miss!), we are soon climbing again over the harder San Llaurienzu. However we will be saving our climbing legs for the biggest challenge of the day, the Cat 1 Farrapona. Featured as a finish three times previously, the climb is long but thankfully not super steep making the ascent a very special road. After climbing, we will head to the VIP Hospitality Zone and be amazed at how fast the pros speed up the climb. An exciting finish is anticipated for the best GC climbers.
Today we will have a special behind the scenes tour and your chance to have your photo taken on the podium. Be there to enjoy this fantastic stage and the VIP access.
After seeing the podiums, we transfer back to our team base in Oviedo. We head out to the local cider bars tonight to relive today’s incredible stage.A long but exhilarating day!
Day 7. Pajares and Cuitu Negru Summits (Madrid)
up to 75km / 47m
It’s the end of the live race action, but the climbs for us keep coming! Before heading back to Madrid, we will ride the cat 1 Pajares ascent, being close to Oviedo. A majestic mountain pass, it featured as part of the Queen Stage in 2024.
At the top of this cat 1 pass, there is the option for the stronger riders to tackle an additional 3kms with an average grade of 12% – this is the hors cat Cuitu Negru finish. It’s a challenge after a hard week of riding, making the total ascent 16km. This climb is becoming legendary at La Vuelta. Last year, Roglic ate into O’Connor’s lead on these very slopes and, before in 2012, there was an epic red jersey battle between Rodriguez and Contador.
Afterwards we transfer south in the van (4 hours) stopping en route for lunch and coffee breaks, before heading back to our 4 star hotel in the heart of Madrid.
Day 8. 08 September – Onward Travels or continue onto Last Week
After breakfast it’s time to say adíos with memories of a fine week of Vuelta climbs and mountain stages.
However, there is no need for a farewell, as choose to stay longer and carry on for the important final week tour. Buy the Combined Jersey Package (a discount on the two tours – ask for details). A real Spanish Vuelta Fiesta!
Trip details
Tour Style
Road Bike Tour: Premium Guided Vuelta Bike Tour
Bikes: Road Carbon TREK Emonda, CUBE Race & Orbea E-Road bikes
Route: Madrid, Ponferrada, Galicia, Oviedo, Madrid
Group Size: 6-16
Guides: 1 guide for every 4 people
Riding Level
Challenging : distances are a daily average of 90km.
Please note this is hilly countryside with some longer and steeper climbs.
It is classed as Challenging as there are some tough climbs.
We offer van support so it is possible to opt out of some of the harder ascents, making it “Moderate”. Plus option to rent an E-Road bike.
Accommodation
Luxury 4 star hotels – All bedrooms en-suite
Food
3 Dinners
All breakfasts – buffet
Complimentary organic MULEBAR gels and protein bars
Extras Included
- VIP access to stage finishes / depart villages. This includes a private race viewing area at the finish with complimentary drinks and tapas. We will also have access to the podium for your own photos, access to back stage areas. We work with La Vuelta organisers to make your experience unique.
- Stay in some of the hotels as the pro teams
- Ride the race route until the finish line (we have access that the public will not have)
- Enjoy an evening drink and Q&A session with an ex-pro
- Our vans are accredited to drive the race route – jump in for a rest if required
- Ride with experienced guides, including the sub champion of Andalucia and a Vuelta a Espana Masters rider. We have been running Vuelta tours for 15 years consecutively
- Complimentary full zip Cycling Country La Vuelta cycling jersey by SANTINI
- Complimentary Cycling Country gifts, bags, cycling caps, t-shirts, luggage tags and water bottles etc
- Route notes, maps, profiles
- Daily snacks and refreshments (organic MULEBAR protein bars & energy gels, isotonic mixes granola bars, fruit etc and drinks)
Staff
3 to 5 leaders with full van support to pick up souvenirs, provide refreshments, act as guides, offer tips and insights throughout the day, provide directional signs where required, transfer luggage and provide on-road assistance. 1 or 2 guides cycle with the group. 1 guide at least for every 4 clients.
Bikes
We can arrange good quality road bike hire:
- TREK Emonda carbon frame, Shimano Ultegra, compact – 275 Euros extra
- TREK Emonda carbon frame, Shimano 105, compact – 200 Euros extra
- Orbea Gain carbon frame EBike, Shimano Ultegra/105 – 450 Euros extra
- If bringing your own bike, we recommend a compact chainset.
*Please note if bringing own bike, there will be a 75€ bike box charge
Getting Here
Madrid is accessed by international airlines. Fast train connections from around the country. Please ask for information.
Lodgings
Just because you are on a bike trip doesn’t mean you have to suffer off the bikes too! We take this into mind on our Vuelta Bike Tour and have lined up some great hotels for this tour.
Enjoy quality hotels all the way, including some nights with the professional teams. Starting at the stunning boutique Petit Palace Savoy Alfonso beside the retiro park in Madrid, we head to Bilbao and a classy 4 star hotel near to the centre. In Cangas enjoy the evening with views to the Picos mountains from our retreat, before another 4 star in Oviedo, well located near to the shopping district and cathedral. Then back to the Petit Palace in Madrid for the finale. Top accommodation for a great event.
Reviews
“Julie and I had an incredible time riding with our group and leaders on the roads and race course of La Vuelta. Geoff, Dean, Jose and Santi are not only fun and interesting to travel with but go way beyond expectations to make us comfortable and ready to ride! The hotels we stayed at are amazing as are the meals we enjoyed. The VIP access to the pros was sick! Kudos Cycling Country!! Kuss, Kuss, Kuss!!!”
D. & J. Mahler, Washington, USA – La Vuelta Sept 2023 – Week 3 to Madrid
“Cycling Country’s 2019 Last Week to Madrid tour was the trip of a lifetime for my wife and me.
We are not cyclists ourselves but fell in love with the sport from watching the Tour de France on TV starting 20 years ago. For years we talked about attending a grand tour in person, and last year we finally did. We chose Cycling Country’s Vuelta because their promotional material sounded good, the price was reasonable, and my email correspondence with CC’s Maggi was always helpful and thoroughly delightful. CC promised VIP access and, if anything, they understated the case. Two examples: At the start of one day’s race, we stood at the back of the stage while the riders signed in. At the finish of another, we stood directly next to the TV camera at the finish line. Every day, we rode in one of the support vans while the other members of the group were riding the race route, so we got to know the fabulous staff- Geoff, Javier and Dean. They were consummate group leaders, always making sure we and the riders (and their bikes) were well taken care of. Our accommodations were incredible- centuries-old castles that had been converted to luxury hotels- and the food was fantastic. If you love cycling, or even if you just love to watch, you will love going on a Cycling Country tour. 💙❤️🖤💛💚.”
J. & L. Hickman, Minnesota, USA – La Vuelta Sept 2019 – Week 3 to Madrid
“Hi Geoff and Maggi
We just wanted to say a huge thank you for the fabulous three weeks we had with you both, Javi and Dean.
Looking back on the photos we packed so much into those three weeks. We love Spain and love seeing it on a bike with you. You run your business extremely professionally yet we all get very personal attention.
Thanks once again.”
J & T. De Vries & C. Lazenby, Vic, Australia – La Vuelta 2019 – All Three Tours!
“Thanks so much for an excellent trip. It was all (and more) that I had hoped for. Geoff you are an excellent guide – very helpful and great at managing expectations. I would be pleased to help you spread the word about your company and the excellent experience you provide. Thanks again – it was fabulous!”
J & R. Anderson & D. Grant – Ottawa, Ontario – La Vuelta 2019 – Tour 2 Northern Summits
“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 a former road racing cyclist 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 say 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, Medalin, 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
“That was an amazing trip to the Vuelta! So much behind-the-scenes access and some fab riding too. Thanks for everything!”
L. Rice, London, UK – La Vuelta 2015 -Depart & Southern Climbs
“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! “
L. Sullivan, 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 2025 – WEEK 2
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
€ 3495
SINGLE SUPP. € 525
CHECK AVAILABILITY HERE
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