March 2013 Mountain Training Camp in Andalucia

[Mark Leedham]

I have been planning a pre-season Mountain Training Camp in Andalucia and wondered if any of you would like to join me?

Suggested date is from Saturday March 2 to Saturday March 9 2013. The camp will be based in Torrox Pueblo around 50 minutes drive from Malaga Airport.

If you want to find out more, or are interested in coming along then please call me or email me (see bottom of message)

Torrox Pueblo is a typical Andalucian white mountain village, narrow winding streets decorated with flowers and plants leading to hidden squares with bars offering wine at 1 euro per glass[/size].

1 Weather

Torrox Pueblo and its neighbor Nerja are renowned for having “La Major Clima de Europa” (the best climate in Europe) due to their position between the
Mediterranean Sea and the Saharan winds in the South and the impressive Sierra Almijara y Tejeda mountains to the North which keep most of the clouds and cold winds away.

2 Rides

I have recce’d a number of rides during my last couple of trips, the best of these include:

2.1 Ruta del sol y del vino (90k, 1800m)

Leaving Torrox with a downhill ride to the sea and then eastward along the coast road to Torre del Mar. A 10 k climb up the Sierra de Tejeda
before a coffee stop at Arenas. An hour or so of undulating road through Daimlos and Corumbella valley then a lunch stop at Competa.
After lunch a sweeping 10k descent from Competa before an 8k climb to Frigliana and another coffee stop followed by a fast descent to Nerja
and then back to Torrox.

Ruta del sol y del vino (Sun and wine Route) is described by the locals as “Next to a beautiful coastline of beaches interspersed with cliffs and coves,
and hillsides dotted with white farmhouses and worker’s cottages where the sweet wine is produced which has been legendary since the time of the Romans”

Competa
[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic1_zps7f54ac82.jpg[/img]

2.2 Torvizcon to Sierra de la Contraviesa Ridge (102 km 2083m)

An hour’s drive to Torvicon ( the motorway bridge was washed away in June), quick coffee then 5 miles gentle undulations before we head South
with a 15k climb to the cork forest with a well deserved coffee at the top. We then have a 30k ride along the Sierra de la Contraviesa Ridge on your
right is the sea 1300m below, on your left, a view across the Cadiar Valley to Sierra Nevadas. You may see the occasional car, but you will probably
see more donkeys bringing the Olives back down the hill before stopping for lunch at Murta. Then it is all downhill via Ugijar, Cadiar and back to the cafe at Tourvicon.

View to the South
[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic3_zps7b59db04.jpg[/img]

View to the North
[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic5_zps8ed470a6.jpg[/img]

Routes
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2.3 Ruta mudejar ( 100km, 2000m)

Leaving Torrox with an uphill ride to Competa, then up through the Moorish towns of Sedalla and Canillas de Acetunio where we can stop for lunch.
A bit more climbing to Vinuala and then 15k descent through Velez Malaga and down to Torre del Mar. 15 k of coast road back to Torrox.

Ruta mudejar is described by the locals “The Muslim roots of the Axarquia region are evident in these small inland towns, dotted
with minarettes, arcades and other features which confer this route an enchanting appeal”.

The road to Competa
[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic7_zps55655d34.jpg[/img]


Relax at Paco’s In Torrox Pueblo after a day’s riding

[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic9_zpsbd87c29b.jpg[/img]

2.4 Alba – Puerta de Albandon – Cadiar-Berja- Alba (108km 2103m)

About 90 minutes drive along the coast road to Adra. A big day today, leaving Adra we have 14km of undulating coast road before we tackle
the cat 1 puerto de Albondon followed by a 10km drop into Cadiar for lunch. Leaving Cadiar to the east on a brand new, perfectly surfaced road
out to Cherin. We then climb for 5km before the incredibly long and fast drop to Berja and then back to Adra on the coast.

[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic11_zps142838c4.jpg[/img]

2.5 Pico Valetta (80km, 3384m)

I must admit that I have not tried this one but am keen to get up early and give it a go. It is about 2 hours drive from Torrox to the West Side of Granada. Not sure how high we can get in March, depends on the snow, but we should be able to get to the ski station (2500m). One of my objectives will be a snowball fight at the top, then back to Torrox for a swim in the sea.

According to the award-winning Mountain High: Europe's Greatest Cycling Climbs, by Daniel Friebe and Pete Goding, the Pico de Veleta "is taller and tougher than anything on the Tour de France [but] lacks in kudos what it offers in elevation precisely because of its height... it is, more simply put, too high. Too high for year-round access and too high, perhaps most to the point, to join the upper crust of professional cycling's most noble mountains". Richard Fletcher from the Telegraph wrote about it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activ ... -road.html

3 Facilities

3.1 Accommodation

As an introductory offer I can put 3 people up at Sharon's place in Torrox Additional people can stay at the Hotel Al Andalus
(10 houses down the road).

3.1.1 View from Terrace

[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic12_zps683a62db.jpg[/img]

3.1.2 Living area with Freeview Satellite, WiFi.

[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic13_zps430411dc.jpg[/img]


3.1.3 Nerja from Balcon De Europa

[img]http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r633/markleedham01/Pic15_zps5f67d8f0.jpg[/img]

3.2 Food

I suggest a food/drink whip to cover breakfast, snacks, beer, wine, Larios and evening barbeques at Casa Sharon.
In addition we can eat dinner out in Torrox Pueblo, Torrox Costa and Nerja.

3.3 Hire Car

Car hire will probably be around £200 per car including petrol so, assuming 4 people £50 per person. This will cover Airport transport, driving
to Alpajurra and Granada and travel for evenings out.

3.4 Flights

Monarch and EasyJet fly Gatwick to Malaga. If booked 2 months in advance, I checked today £100 return plus £20 each way for bikes.

3.5 Washing

Casa Sharon has washing machine and drying facilities for cycling kit.

3.6 Bike Shops

I know 2 bike shops in Velez Malaga and Torre del Mar if there are any mechanicals and a Decathlon near Malaga Airport.

3.7 Trips

If we have spare times, could visit : Nerja Caves, Velez Malaga Waterpark, Swimming Pool and Football matches in Torrox Pueblo,
Malaga or Nerja shopping, Sherry Bodega in Malaga, Sardines on Torrox Costa beach, or just go swimming in the Med at Torrox Costa.

3.8 Evenings

Barbeques at Casa Sharon, plenty of Restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Nerja or down to the Plaza in Torrox Pueblo.


If you want to find out more, or are interested in coming along then please call me or email me.

Regards


Mark Leedham
mark.leedham@hp.com