Gran Canaria Explore a Spanish island and year-round cycling oasis For those who truly long to go off the beaten path, discover with us this brand new itinerary featuring one of the most sought- after places in Europe by cyclists who love to ride all year round. It s a favorite escape and training ground for the Ciclismo guide team, who have been coming here year after year to ride, relax, reconnect, and savor the lush and dramatic landscapes of Gran Canaria. ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 2 Daily Itinerary / Page 3-4 Arrival & Departure / Page 5 Bike Information / Page 5 Terms & Conditions / Page 6 Reserve Your Space! / Page 6 Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 1
TRIP ESSENCE Enjoy a classic destination for European cyclists on an island famous for its warm climate all year round Dramatic change of landscape including views of the sea, lush forests, deserts, and volcanic mountains Explore the second largest of the Canary Islands on exhilarating rides that vary from sea level to 6,300 ft. altitude Stays at charming hotels and enchanting country inns Don t miss any extra days of work on a week-long tour WHAT S INCLUDED Use of a carbon road bike (see page 5 for details) Service of local, professional guides throughout the program Ciclismo jersey and water bottle TRIP DETAILS 2019 Trip Dates Feb 10-16 Mar 10-16 Dec 8-15 Ability Level Intermediate Summary of Daily Distances Day 1: 15 miles Day 2: 39/49 miles Day 3: 15/25 miles Day 4: 45/54 miles Day 5: 44/54 miles Day 6: 42/48 miles Day 7: Hasta la vista! Optional extra loops available Trip Price $4,295 Single Supplement: $700 All accommodations Cycling clinics 1 wine tasting Visit to the botanical gardens Other activities can be organized upon request and availability (at additional charge) Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 2
DAY 1 SANTA BRIGADA TO PICO DE BANDAMA Daily Mileage - 15 miles Riding Terrain - Short descent and some easy climbs, another descent. Elevation gain: 1,260 ft. Hotel - Hotel Escuela Location: Santa Brigida Duration: 2 Nights www.hecansa.com DAY 2 TEROR AND VEGA SAN MATEO LOOP Daily Mileage - 39/49 miles Riding Terrain - Gradual climb to Teror then more climbing followed by a long downhill back to the hotel. Elevation gain: 3,120/4,675 ft. Welcome! We meet in the lobby of our hotel at 12:30 pm for a light lunch, and and introduction and orientation talk. In the afternoon after a bike fitting, we will enjoy a warm-up ride to get acquainted with your bike and savor the beauty of this island. We ll then explore the lush, fertile valley of Barranco de Santa Brigida and climb to Pico de Bandama, the top of a crater of the dormant volcano of Caldera de Bandama. Dinner is at the hotel tonight. The Hotel Escuela Santa Brígida is a completely refurbished building with over a century s history, set in the residential area near Las Palmas. It s a 4-star hotel that features a restaurant with a culinary school. Today we visit the biggest botanical garden of Spain that boasts over 2,000 type of plants indigenous to the Canary Islands. Our bike ride will take us inland through lush vegetation, gradually gaining elevation on our way to Teror. This town is one of the jewels of the island, famous for its whitewashed houses and its production of mineral water. The ride to Vega San Mateo is through green forests and farmland and ends with an exhilarating twisty descent back to the hotel, where you can relax by the pool. Hotel - See Day 1 DAY 3 SANTA BRIGADA TO CRUZ DE TEJEDA Daily Mileage - 15/25 miles Riding Terrain - One long and steady climb. Elevation gain: 3,545/4,970 ft. Hotel - Hotel Parador Location: Cruz de Tejeda Duration: 1 Night www.paradores-spain.com/ spain/pcruztejeda.html Today s ride will take us through one of the most scenic parts of Gran Canaria, which offers the view of mount Tejeda, alpine forests and the island s reservoirs. This journey through the clouds will reward you with a spectacular view of rocky mountains in a Alpine-like climate. We ll have lunch here and we recommend that you continue on the extra loop ride to Pico de las Nieves, the highest peak of the island. Close by is Roque Nublo, a natural rock formation that stands like a statue worshipped by the ancient Gaunche people. At dinner we ll sample exquisite local dishes at our hotel. The Parador is near the village at the center of Gran Canaria, at 5,118 feet above sea level. This pristine zone overlooks gullies and cliffs leading down into the sea. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 3
DAY 4 CRUZ DE TEJEDA TO PLAYA DE MOGÁN Daily Mileage - 45/54 miles Riding Terrain - Very long breathtaking descent with a few climbs in between. Elevation gain: 3,050/4,035 ft. Hotel - Hotel Cordial Location: Playa de Mogán Duration: 3 Nights www.paradores-spain.com/ spain/pcruztejeda.html DAY 5 AGUIMES TO PUERTO DE MOGAN Daily Mileage - 44/54 miles Riding Terrain - Elevation gain: 5,531 ft./6,745 ft. Today s ride goes from 1,520 m down to sea level nevertheless it will still satisfy your climbing hunger. Leave high peaks and pines for palms and cactus. This route is the most bio-diverse of them all. The extra loop offers a view of one of Gran Canaria s best preserved natural pine forests, the National Park of Tamadaba, which is an enormous massif where it is also possible to observe unusual rock formations due to the erosion. Its vegetation consists, among others, of pine groves, Canary cedar and palm trees. Our resort for the next two days offers all the amenities to enjoy your stay by the sea either relaxing on the beach or having a massage at the local spa. The Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa is a large complex set on tropical grounds, and features 2 outdoor swimming pools, a spa and rooms with balconies. The resort covers an area of 12 acres and has a sub-tropical garden very close to the center of the town. We start today with a 40-minute shuttle from the hotel to Aguimes. It will be a beautiful route jam-packed with incredible vistas on silky smooth roads, continuously curving its way to the heart of the island. This is Disneyland for bike riders and a popular favorite of seasoned cyclists who come to the island each winter to train and enjoy the warm climate. The last part of the ride takes us downhill to the coast and back to Puerto de Mogan the optional extra loop is an out-and-back ride to Lake Chira. Hotel - See Day 4 DAY 6 SORIA WATERFALL AND THE COAST Daily Mileage - 42/48 miles Riding Terrain - Gentle climb with final hairpin turns to the top and descent to Soria; great descent and final up and down coastal ride. Elevation gain: 3,775/4,380 ft. Our last ride features a long gentle climb to Mogán to get warmed up for the grand finale, with twisting hairpin turns which wind up through rock formations and pine trees before descending to Soria s waterfall and lake. Enjoy also an ex hill arating downhill through Barranco de Arguineguin and a coastal ride back to the hotel. In the evening we celebrate a week of incredible discovery while indulging on a scrumptious farewell dinner. Hotel - See Day 4 DAY 7 HASTA LA VISTA! After breakfast, at around 9 am take our private shuttle (50 min) to Las Palmas airport to catch your flight. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 4
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE GETTING TO BRIGIDA Fly to Madrid Barajas airport (MAD) and arrange for connecting flights to Las Palmas (LPA) which takes approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes. You can also fly to Las Palmas using the low-cost company Ryan Air which operates from some of the major European cities using secondary airports. Hotel is situated in Santa Brigida, about 12 miles from Las Palmas Airport and can be easily reached by taxi (the cost is around 25-30 Euro). DEPARTING FROM PLAYA DE MOGÁN At around 9 am we provide one group shuttle (50 minutes) to Las Palmas Airport, where you can catch your connecting flight. OTHER INFORMATION For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson Travel Call: 1-855-780-2022 or E-mail: ciclismoair@vwti.com Travel Insurance World Nomads Call: 1-816-905-3963 (Direct/ Collect 1-844-207-1930 (Toll-Free within USA) https://www.worldnomads.com/ travel-insurance/ Transportation Rome2rio http://www.rome2rio.com BIKE INFORMATION Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with minimum stress for the riders, thanks to Bianchi s special C2C (Coast to Coast) frame design/geometry and different material combination. Carbon bikes are equipped with compact crank and 11/32 cassette. Bianchi Vertigo included free ( new for 2018) on all Easy and Athletic Beginner tours. Bianchi Intenso included on all Intermediate and Advanced tours. Bianchi C-Sport 2.5 More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is a highperformance aluminum hybrid bicycle with straight handlebars. It has a sloping design for superior comfort and bigger tires and hydraulic disc brakes. Included on all tours. Tandems Cannondale RT 2: Racing position with 700 c wheels. Available for $400, limited availability. Honey bicycles: Racing position with 700 c wheels. Available for $400, limited availability. Co-motion Periscope: Racing position with 700 c wheels. Accommodates smaller team or even children. Available for $400. Cannondale Hybrid MT800: Upright position with 26 c wheels and straight handlebars. Available for $400. ON THE BIKE Included: Ciclismo Classico water bottle Two water bottle holders Map holder on handlebars and a Garmin Edge GPS Handlebar bag Tire pump Combination bike lock Gel-padded saddle Choice of pedals Card with your tour leaders mobile phone numbers Pedal Options: Flat pedals Half-toe pedals (without straps) Toe cage pedals Things to Bring: Helmet Optional: clipless pedals with shoes Optional: your own saddle E-Bike: Bianchi Manhattan Available on all Easy and Athletic Beginner tours, and some Intermediate and Advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 5
INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONS Insurance Ciclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via email once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice. Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as follows: Days before departure Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit* 91-120 days - 100% of the deposit* 61-90 days - 30% of the trip price 31-60 days - 60% of the trip price 0-30 days - 100% of the trip price *You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried forward to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied. Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group. To review our policies, please visit http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/plan-your-trip/policies/ RESERVE YOUR SPACE! To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at 800-866-7314. Or, mail your deposit and contact information to: Ciclismo Classico attn: Rosa 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA 02474 At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and email address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 6