Arroz a banda–seafood rice cooked slowly and served right in the pan. Fresh-grilled sea bream straight from the boat, finished with sea salt and prepared at the table. Red shrimp from the Dénia market, served simply and meant to be eaten with your hands. And for dessert, a slice of tarta de Santiago–almond cake dusted with powdered sugar.
Vermut de grifo—vermouth on tap—served before lunch, over ice with an orange slice and olive. Crisp white wine from Alicante paired with fresh clams. An ice-cold draft beer at a beachside café. And finally, a small cortado coffee at the bar before the afternoon gets underway.
Calpe is where professional cycling teams come to escape winter. The roads climb consistently, the sun is reliable, and the Costa Blanca has a way of making hard efforts feel worthwhile.
The roads are steep, the sun is reliable, and the Costa Blanca has a way of making hard efforts feel worthwhile. For decades, WorldTour squads have based themselves here between Valencia and Alicante, drawn by the same things that make it exceptional for inGamba guests: sustained climbs, empty roads, and a Mediterranean backdrop that turns every ride into something more than training.
You’ll spend the week at the Marriott La Sella, a five-star resort that doubles as an unofficial pro team hotel for much of the winter season. The standard is high, the location is excellent, and the chance of a familiar face in the lobby is genuinely not zero.
The riding covers everything Calpe does best. The Val de Ebo is one of the great inland climbs of the region: remote, sustained, properly demanding. The Coll de Rates is a benchmark that Pogačar and Van der Poel have both used to measure themselves. In between: coastal loops past the Peñon de Ifach, quiet valley roads, and one deliberate coffee ride to remind you this is a holiday. Six days, 421 kilometers, and a finish that earns its celebration.
Borgolecchi is a destination in itself. Non-riding companions can enjoy a full programme of cultural experiences, relaxation, and Tuscan exploration while you’re on the bike.
Routes with genuine climbing and rewarding descents. You'll work for the views, but nothing here requires a granny gear. A satisfying day in the saddle for cyclists who enjoy a bit of punch in their rides.
Stay in the stunning locations that we know and love, and spent years finding.
The latest DOGMA F engineered for any road, equipped with the lightest electronic groupset available. E-bike option also available.
Every breakfast, lunch and dinner — from handmade pasta to Fiorentina steak grilled while you watch. Wine, espresso and aperitivi included.
Pick-up from Porta Romana (10:30) or Florence Airport (11:00). Drop-off arranged on departure day at 8:30am.
High-tech performance meets luxury for the optimal riding experience with our Custom 36.5 kit.
Professional soigneurs with peloton experience ease sore muscles and prepare you for the next day.
Five mechanics work meticulously to ensure your Pinarello is race-ready every single morning of your trip.
Don't worry about chores whilst you're away, all cycling kit is cleaned overnight, so it’s fresh, dry and ready to go each morning.
Make use a beautiful day bag from Ideal & Co. Yours to keep after the trip.
Fill your pockets with fresh snacks, or make use of an entire Enervit collection.
The legs need to remember what they're doing. Sunday's ride is a gentle loop around Monte Pego: sea views, no pressure, enough climbing to confirm everything is working. If anything needs adjusting on the bike, now is the time. Dinner at La Sella, the week ahead on the table.
The biggest day of the week, and it comes early. The road into the Val de Ebo climbs from sea level through a landscape that feels genuinely remote: quiet villages, dry stone walls, no traffic, panoramic views that open up long before the summit. Average gradient of 6-8%, sustained, honest. A proper day's work.
Please change to: The route takes in the climbs above Calpe before descending past the Peñon de Ifach: 332 meters of limestone rising straight out of the Mediterranean, declared a Natural Park in 1987 and still one of the most arresting sights in European cycling. Stop for coffee in Calpe on the way back.
Halfway through the week and the legs get a day off. Technically. There's still 672 meters of climbing in here, but the pace is conversational and the objective is simple: find good coffee, take the long way back. The kind of ride that reminds you why you started cycling in the first place.
One of the Marina Alta's best-kept secrets. The Alto de Tarrenyes is virtually traffic-free, perfectly surfaced, and connects a series of valleys with views that stretch further than you'd expect. In the company of climbs like the Alt de Tollos and Coll de la Garga, it has earned its reputation quietly. Sustained and satisfying in equal measure.
The Costa Blanca's most iconic climb, and the only way to end the week. Pogačar has ridden it. Van der Poel has ridden it. The Vuelta comes here. Wide, well-surfaced, with views that open to the sea on a clear day -- it is a benchmark for cyclists from around the world, and it will not let you down. Ride it well, descend carefully, and raise a glass at the bottom.
This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye, or at least arrivederci, until we meet again. Transfers to the airport will be arranged by our hard-working crew but if you’re planning on staying a few extra days, let us know if we can help with reservations or a few recommendations.
Manuel Cardoso is no longer sitting on the front of the pack, pulling everyone along at what some would describe as a “brisk” pace and what others are unable to describe at all, because they’re too busy gasping for breath and holding onto the wheel in front of them for dear life. Manuel is now sitting just slightly off the back of the pack. As I look back, I realize he has that look on his face. The look that struck fear in the hearts of the Pro Peloton for many years. Part grin, part mischievous child, and all business. He is about to start some shenanigans.
Sure enough, just a few kilometers later, Manuel has picked one lucky contestant out of the pack and they are sitting in, waiting like predators for the perfect moment. For Manuel, just like when he raced pro, this is when the road turns slightly up. A spot where it gets tough for everyone. And he accelerates with his breakaway “partner” in tow. He ramps it up to a speed with which no one can latch on, and with such precision you have to question whether you actually want to try and close the gap he has created. And you can’t see it, but you just know he is grinning from ear to ear.
”"We're specifically trying to give our guests the closest experience of what it means to be in a pro team, at any speed."
With years of experience in the professional peloton, our mechanics and soigneurs bring WorldTour-level care to every detail of your ride. Up to five mechanics work meticulously each day to ensure your Pinarello is perfectly tuned and adjusted for you alone—not just race-ready, but dialed to your precise preferences. Meanwhile, our soigneurs draw on their own experience as professional riders to anticipate your needs before you voice them: bottles filled and positioned exactly right, ride food prepared and timed to fuel you through the hardest climbs, post-ride massages that ease tired muscles, and the kind of quiet, confident support that prepares you mentally and physically for whatever the road brings next. This is the care that once belonged only to the pros. With inGamba, it’s yours.
The Marriott La Sella sits in the hills above Denia, overlooking a golf course and the Mediterranean beyond it.
It is a five-star resort in the fullest sense: spacious rooms, a serious spa, and a level of service that explains why WorldTour teams return here every winter. After a day on the climbs of the Costa Blanca, the distance between the bike wash and the massage table is mercifully short. La Sella is your base for the full week — and it handles the recovery side of things as well as any hotel in the region.
”"An amazing travel experience. They make you feel like a star. I was blown away by the treatment that can only be likened to a professional athlete — just without the race."
Daniel B.Guest in 2024
”"The whole experience is magical. The rides are stunning. The care and attention to detail is first class. The massages are a lifesaver."
Lyn K.Guest in 2018, 2019 & 2023
”"The best in the industry. A once in a lifetime experience every time! The people that make inGamba are the reason you will want to travel with them again and again."
Victoria P.Guest in 2024
Single Supplement: $1,200 per person · Private Trips: Available on request for groups of 6+
Guests of inGamba are passionate cyclists who love the sport and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Most of our community are experienced riders of all ages and various abilities, who appreciate great roads, fine food, and unforgettable company.
While everyone enjoys a challenge, no one’s chasing a pro contract here. Instead, the focus is on sharing incredible rides at a comfortable pace, soaking in the scenery, and enjoying the journey. You’ll find more “middle of the pack” and “social” riders than hard chargers at the front, and with our exceptional staff-to-guest ratio, every rider is fully supported, no matter their speed or style.
Fly to: Valencia (VLC)
Pick-up: Valencia Airport 11:00
Drop-off: Valencia Airport, departure from hotel at 8:30am
We recommend arriving the night before. Our concierge can help with hotel recommendations.
Gratuities are customary if you feel the staff delivered an exceptional experience. Most guests find 10-20% of the trip cost appropriate. All tips are split evenly among the entire team.
We recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your booking. View our cancellation policy →
Need to change dates? Contact us as early as possible and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
Browse our extensive Journal, featuring world-class writers and photographers and a host of great content about food, wine, cycling, and so much more.
The Perfect Springtime Pasta Recipe—Courtesy of inGamba Chef Tomi Morgade
The Art of Solo Dining, Finding Flow & The Riders We’d Most Want to Meet: Behind the Scenes of THE MAGAZINE
Viva Portugal!
Finding the Flow: The Magazine Sneak Peek
The Art of Solo Dining, Finding Flow & The Riders We’d Most Want to Meet: Behind the Scenes of THE MAGAZINE
