Cycling really is one of the top activities in the Alicante region. Something you'll not miss with the teams of Lycra-clad brightly coloured cyclists you will spot shooting through the smallest villages, up winding roads with steep drops down rocky mountain, or by orchards and vineyards with trees blooming with pink and white blossom in the winter!. The Tour of Spain started in Benidorm last year
and took in Orihuela's beaches in the initial stages. Many a major cycling team comes to this region in winter and spring with the climate providing the perfect weather for training. The gentle coastal routes can be comibined with steep climbs up the mountains to test their endurance. The busy summer roads have quietened too to give a good training ground before the season starts. The taxing Valencia Region Cycling Tour, which is 827 kilometres long and divided into five stages comes through the local area around Pinoso too. You can follow in their path. Don't worry if you don't have a bike, we can provide the cycle you need if you get in touch. For those who a little rustier than their bicycle chain and needs a little help to adjust to two wheels instead of four, the quiet local roads gently wind through vineyard and farmland. The more experienced riders can enjoy the thrills along the tracks to explore the inland countryside. The Valencia region has a number of BTT cycling centres with about 100kms of circuits and trails. Discover the best of the region's most beautiful and least-known areas on your bike ride amid nature at its finest. One interesting ride is a circular tour around Alcoy, which has some interesting historic buildings such as its castle, watchtower and church. The route is 140kms long and can be stretched out over several hours if you stop to enjoy the countryside, have a spot of lunch half way through the ride at Pego or Benimeli, plus another stop alongside the Serpis river. You could take longer with an overnight stop so you can enjoy a little more of this great part of the Alicante region. Along the way, you will pass through Castell de Castells, which is a beautiful mountain village at the source of the Jalon river. The route passes through Orba towards Benimeli, where you will see orchards full of orange, almond and carob trees. In springtime, they are full of pink and white blossom, creating pink aromatic valleys. The route takes you back to Alcoy via Planes, which is another pretty little rural village famous for producing cherries. Winding you up
Another challenging circular route is 77kms from Abdet and goes through Guadalest, Finestrat and Sella, which is often used in the Tour of Spain. Guadalest is known as the Eagle's Nest and has one of the most spectacular views in all of Spain. You need to be pretty fit to tackle this ride as there is a twisting road which takes you up to 1,000 metres above sea level when you get to the Puerto Tudons. Further south the terrain around Orihuela provides some challenging winding routes through the mountains. Otherwise you could keep to the flatter ground around the coast. You could start with a 15km ride around Los Dolses on the coast which goes through the pretty seaside resorts of Playa Flamenca, La Zenia and Cabo Roig. Nearby is another, more challenging ride around Algorfa and the lake, which is a circular tour of 44kms. Next to the small agricultural town of Algorfa is the Benejuzar nature park. It is definitely worth stopping off here and taking a walk around the park - on a good day, you might not meet another living soul! Fancy a ride? In the Alicante region, you will find bike rides to suit your ability and stamina. Whether you want to hire a bike for a few hours to enjoy a ride along the coastal promenade or fancy a more challenging mountain trek, the choice is there for the making. Cyclists, young and old, professional and absolute beginners, can enjoy exploring part of the Alicante region's picturesque countryside, finding small, unspoilt inland villages to sample traditional cuisine and culture, away from the hustle and bustle of the cities and seaside resorts.
