4-Sep-2015 - 13-Sep-2015
Duration: Tailored to suit you, but usually 8-10 days
Suitable for: Leisure pirate to the serious cyclist.
Prices from: Depending on requirements, between $5500-$6900
Description
The Vuelta a Espana is the most relaxed of the three Grand Tours on the cycling calendar, making it by far the most suited to a combination of spectating and riding along the course and countryside before the peloton rolls through.
In recent years, though, the stakes have risen: Alberto Contador defeated Chris Froome in a display of domination in the 2014 edition, and Froome looks set to return in 2015 to prove a point. There is never a lack of fire on the mountainous stages raced through the long Spanish summer afternoons.
Phil Anderson Cycling offers tailor-made tours to la Vuelta for groups of more than six. The itinerary featured below was run for a private group and represents a typical example of our Spanish offering. The guys loved their time on the bike and off, enjoying lots of fantastic tapas, cerveza, close-up access to the race and, of course, riding! Our tours usually follow the final week of the race, with this year's edition coming to a close in Barcelona.
If you think you and a group of friends might be interested in joining Phil at la Vuelta in2017, call our office on 03 5237 0225 or submit the below registration of interest form with an outline of the kind of tour you would like to get the process started today.
06-Sep-2014
Day 1
Vuelta a España: Stage 14: Stantander>La Camperona (199km)
Today's Ride: 100km, including Collada de la Hoz.
We’ll meet you at Hotel Palacio de La Magdalena at 10am to begin out tour. After transferring to our first hotel, we’ll set off again, by bike this time, for a 100km round trip to the final climb of today’s stage. After completing the Mt. ourselves, we’ll select a good spot for spectating the finale of Stage 14.
Our first two nights will be in the region of Gijon, known for its varied gastronomy, excellent seafood, cider, and beach culture. We will ensure you have opportunities to take in all this when you’re not on the bike or on the roadside of the Vuelta.
07-Sep-2014
Day 2
Vuelta a España: Stage 15: Oviedo>Lagos de Covadonga (149km)
Today's Ride: Today’s ride: 80km including Puerto del Torno.
Today’s stage once again begins with coastal roads that will no-doubt lure the opportunists into an early break-away. The final 40km, however, will be a different matter. 35km before the finish line is the Cat. 2 Puerto del Torno, whilst the finish line sits at 1120m and the final 15km are all uphill.
We’ll ride from our hotel again, beginning with spectacular coastal vistas and finishing with an ascent of Puerto del Torno, where we’ll await what will likely be a small break with the GC contenders hot on their heels.
08-Sep-2014
Day 3
Vuelta a España: Stage 16: San Martín del Rey Aurelio> La Farrapona (159km)
Today's Ride: 80km to the summit of Alto de la Cobertoria.
The Vuelta organisers have flagged today as the Queen Stage of 2014. The peloton will face five Cat. 1 climbs including the final mountain top finish at 1715m. This is a day to make or break the GC aspiration of anyone still in the running.
This morning we’ll be riding south to intercept the middle of Stage 16 at the third climb of the day, Alto de la Cobertoria. This is a 5km climb with an average gradient of 6% and will reveal the early form of the riders as they suffer toward two more climbs before the finishline.
Following what should be some excellent spectating we’ll head to our next hotel in A Coruña. Multiple natural beaches within walking distance of the city make A Coruña a popular swimming and surfing destination, while the city itself is known for its street-fashion stores and many bars and clubs. Should you wish to take a day of the bike, there will be plenty of entertainment on offer.
09-Sep-2014
Day 4
Vuelta a España: Second Rest Day
Today's Ride: 80km.
We’ll take today’s rest in the Vuelta as an opportunity to explore the wonderful coastal riding on offer in this part of the world. The pace shouldn’t be too high and there may even be the opportunity for a cheeky dip at one of the many beautiful beaches on the way—it'd be rude not to!
10-Sep-2014
Day 5
Vuelta a España: Stage 17: Ortigueira> Coruña (174km)
Today's Ride:
While the windy coastal roads today will once again be conducive to breakaways, the sprinter’s teams will be on high alert for their final chance of a Stage victory. The course will pass through A Coruña twice—the second time being the Stage finish. We’ll be waiting to watch them both times.
We’re so close to today’s Stage 17 finish that we’ll have time for our own ride in the morning before the peloton arrives in A Coruña. This time we’ll head east ( the direction the Stage will be coming from) to loop around Cabo Coitelada.
Following the ride we’ll have time to freshen up before heading into A Coruña centre to watch the closing moments of a sprint finish.
11-Sep-2014
Day 6
Vuelta a España: Stage 18: A Estrada>Mont Castrove (174km)
Today's Ride: 80km over some back-roads in undulating terrain.
Today we’ll first check out of our hotel and drive to A Estrada to witness a Vuelta a España stage start. This will be a great opportunity to get up close to the riders and team buses as they prepare and sign-on for Stage 18. Once the fanfare has ended with the peloton setting off, we’ll also mount our steeds and head south to Pontevedra where we’ll be staying tonight.
Pontevedra is and ancient Gallician town and sea-port, containing outstandingly well preserved architecture from the 1st century BC through to the Renaissance. Evening strolls around Zona Monumental (the Old City), which is only accessible on foot, are popular and highly recommended for winding down after a long day.
12-Feb-2014
Day 7
Vuelta a España: Stage 19: Salvaterra di Miño>Cangas do Morrazo (177km)
Today's Ride: 90km around the Peninsula de Morazzo to Alto Morazza.
Another Stage that’s not quite in the mountains, but will be too difficult for the sprinters, today may be the final opportunity for a breakaway to stick, unless the GC is still on the line, in which case it will be another fight for seconds.
Alto Morazzo is the final climb of today’s stage at 19km from the finishline. We'll ride there to watch the final plays of the stage, but first we’ll do a loop of the peninsula to get some much-needed kilometres in the legs.
13-Sep-2014
Day 8
Vuelta a España: Stage 20: Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil>Puerto de Ancares (164km)
Today's Ride: Today’s ride: 120km on some fantastic little roads in the hills.
This is the penultimate stage of the Vuelta 2014, and features a finish line atop the Hors Category to Ancares. It’s not too late for a shake-up of the top few GC positions, as we saw in 2013 when Chris Horner took the lead late from Vincenzo Nibali.
We won’t be seeing Stage 20 today, but we will have our own day in the mountains. Heading east, Phil’s designed a spectacular loop on some very quiet back roads in the beautiful Sierra del Suido region.
14-Sep-2014
Day 9
Vuelta a España: Stage 21: Santiago de Compostela ITT (10km)
Today's Ride: 70km, finishing in Santiago de Compostela.
The finale to the 2014 Vuelta a España will be a very short individual Time Trial through the streets of Santiago de Compostela. Recent editions hof the Vuelta have come down to the wire, so this could be an interesting stage.
We’re checking out of our Pontevedra hotel today and setting off in the morning to Santiago de Compostela. The final stage will be feature a late start, so we’ll have time to check into our final hotel before heading into Santiago to witness the final moments of the 2014 Vuelta up close on the city streets.
With the race run and won, we’ll stay for the presentations and celebrate in Spanish style with a farewell dinner befitting of a Spanish holiday. Santiago de Compostela is the Capital of Galicia and the most popular tourist destination in the area as well an important site for Catholcism: it allegedly contains the burial site of th apostle St James. There are many spectacular cathedrals, palaces and museums to see should you wish to stay a few nights following our tour.
15-Sep-2014
Day 10
N/A
Today's Ride: N/A
Today is the end of services provided by Phil Anderson Cycling travel representatives. After checking out, we can assist in transportation for guests who wish to use either Santiago de Composella International Airport or TGV Station.
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