You may have heard that riders flock to Mallorca or Malaga to train in the winter months, but Calpe is the best kept secret of the pro peloton.
Or at least, it was until our former WorldTour pros at inGamba decided it was too good to keep to themselves. This January, you can join cycling legend Eros Poli at this Spanish seaside destination for a week of sunshine and cycling that is guaranteed to kickstart your training for your big Spring cycling goals.
Located on the Costa Blanca between Valencia and Alicante, Calpe is the perfect destination for cyclists looking for warmer weather but plenty of challenge. That’s what brought both Manuel Cardosa and Sérgio Paulinho there early in their pro cycling careers nearly two decades ago. Neither had heard of Calpe until they were told by their team owners that the squad would spend their winter training weeks there. Once they discovered what the riding was like, they never wanted to leave.
Training in Calpe is the ultimate motivator in January, thanks to the plethora of pro teams who still flock here for the great roads and ideal training environment. Your trip will also be a little more challenging compared to some of our more classic inGamba tours. The days will be a bit longer on the bike, the climbs a bit more frequent, and thanks to the endless white, sandy beaches outside of your accommodation, you may be inclined to trade lounging in the afternoon for a walk or jog along the seashore instead.
“I did some training camps there in in the past,” says Manuel. “For training, it is really unbeatable. It’s nice weather, nice roads, nice mountains. It’s perfect for training camps with teams, because we would need to find a place where the riding is good but also, the weather is mild for December and January, when we needed to be building our base. Calpe became one of the top spots for riders to go for that training.”
Compared to even the cycling paradise of Mallorca, Calpe stands out. “The riding is a little bit different,” says Sergio. “We still have the coastline, but those roads can be a little busy, so most riders go more inland. And the best thing is that just out of Calpe, there are a lot of great climbs, a lot of elevation gain and challenging terrain.”
That may sound intimidating, but don’t get too nervous about the climbs. “The climbs are great because yes, they’re challenging, but they’re not sustained,” says Manuel. “The longest is maybe 15 kilometers, so it’s around an hour of pedaling, and it’s never too steep. It’s the perfect five to six percent gradient for a lot of the climbs.”
Calpe in January is a treat for riders to explore: Because it’s primarily a summertime tourist spot, the winters tend to be much quieter. That means you’ll have the beaches largely to yourself (though the water temperatures will be more like an ice bath than a relaxing dip—which may be great after a long day on the bike!).
And while Eros will make sure you’re having the absolute best food, coffee and wine during the entire trip, if you want to treat it more like a serious training camp, that’s a great approach too.
“I like to think of this as a training camp when I’m on these trips,” says Manuel. “It’s a great time to start your season—and it’s exactly what the pros are doing at the same time!” (That said, now that he and Sergio are retired from the WorldTour, the eating and drinking have become much more enjoyable for them!)
And because this is your start to training for the season ahead, make sure you take advantage of Eros’ years of cycling wisdom. Sergio’s favorite part of the guiding trips in Calpe is the opportunity to set cyclists up for success in riding, but not just for this trip.
“Doing a Calpe trip is a good start for a season,” he says. “We help riders, we give them training advice, and we also help with small things like the best way to shift gears while climbing or perfecting your descending position. When we are there with you, we are able to help make really useful changes that benefit your riding on the trip, but also beyond.”
Your longest day and your biggest day of climbing come on Day 6, so pace yourself: You’ll ride 100 kilometers with 1,872 meters of climbing up Val de Ebo to finish your trip. That’s why Manuel always urges riders to pace themselves on day one. “Start easy and you’ll get into a good rhythm after a day or two,” he says.
