Move over, Mallorca! This Mediterranean Gran Fondo is coming for Spain’s sportive crown

You’ve ridden Mallorca, Girona and Calpe. But have you found Spain’s secret cycling gem?

For many UK cyclists, the pattern is familiar: escape the winter with a trip to Tenerife, chase the sun in Mallorca, ride the roads made famous by the pro teams in Calpe and channel your cycling barista with trendy cafe life in Girona. It’s no secret that Spain has long been the go-to answer for extending the riding season.

Yet beyond the typical off-season destinations – where bike boxes fill the airport terminals and cafes feel more like après-ski than chilled cafe culture – there are still places that remain largely undiscovered by us cyclists. Places that are quieter, better value, and still just a short flight away.

It wasn’t until watching the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana earlier this year that this area of Spain came onto my radar. When a spot became available to spend a week with Pedal & Pause on their UNCHAINED cycling camp – including the chance to take part in the Mediterranean Gran Fondo in Benicàssim, Castellón Province – it didn’t take me long to get it booked! 

The area: Valencia & Castellón Province

Famed as the birthplace of paella, Valencia is a city of culture, where historic architecture sits alongside modern arts and science. Drive an hour from the city along the Costa del Azahar; it’s clear to see why it’s referred to as the orange blossom coast with rolling green landscapes of orange groves, almond orchards, and ancient olive farms.

If, like me, you’d only heard of Spain’s cycling mecca Calpe, where you can ride the same roads as Mathieu van der Poel and the pro teams, then it’s worth heading east before everyone else catches on. The pros are already there (I was passed by five riders from Alpecin – Premier Tech and their team car), but amateur cyclists have yet to discover it. 

Pedal & Pause UNCHAINED

The trip started with an early flight from Stansted. Being on the short side, travelling on your own with a massive bike box means it’s a tricky start to the day. Firstly trying to extract the box from the car keeping the bike and car dent free, then lifting the box onto the oversize luggage belt, the air tag tracking to make sure it arrives on the same flight and the worry of finding the oversize luggage area at your destination. Fortunately Valencia airport is also on the small side, and my bike was waiting just inside where I entered. Finally, lifting it off at arrivals, if you’re a solo traveller, try not to worry: as I found out, there are plenty of generous humans who will help.

Upon arrival I was greeted by the Pedal & Pause owners, Paloma (who grew up in the area) and her husband David who is originally from the UK. After an hour’s drive to the villa, there was time to build the bike, and settle before meeting fellow guests who had travelled from Scotland, France and America, over a delicious dinner discussing and prepping for the first day ride.

The Pedal & Pause team had planned the recon rides perfectly. Rather than riding the exact Gran Fondo route, we tackled key climbs in reverse, noting important markers along the way. With both shorter and longer options available, it was an ideal way to keep the legs under control without getting carried away.

Then came the first taste of the “Pause” element – pan con tomate, a Spanish classic of crushed tomato on bread, washed down with a cold bottle of Estrella (with vegetarian and non-alcoholic options also available). It set the tone for the week: plenty of riding, interspersed with relaxed, delicious pauses during and after the rides.

I’ve been fortunate to ride some of Spain’s classic cycling destinations on previous trips, so my expectations were already high – smooth roads, steady climbs and sweeping descents. What I wasn’t quite prepared for was just how smooth the roads were, or how quiet they felt. I couldn’t believe it, barely any traffic and very few other cyclists – the cycling dream.

At times it reminded me of the more remote roads in Gran Canaria – but without the extreme gradients or rougher surfaces – or the longer routes I’ve done from Calpe like Vall de Gallinera and Tudons. The area really did feel like the secret Spain that I’d been lucky enough to be let into.

The event: Mediterranean Gran Fondo

After my gentle leg opener morning ride on Friday, it was time to collect the race pack. There was a full expo at the registration when we collected our packs – including a great Gobik event jersey and Gobik tote bag.

All three route options at the Mediterranean Gran Fondo are circular, which, if you’ve ever done a route abroad, really is a big benefit. No need to battle the logistics of an A-B route and working out transport and how you’ll get to and from the start/finish. 

Like many cyclists, I’ve spent the winter diligently working away on the turbo trainer and, having managed to get in a week of riding in Calpe recently, I opted for the Medio Gran Fondo at 160km. I was confident at this distance but for me, the Epic Gran Fondo – 196km – might have been a bit too far at this time of year. However, looking at the results subsequently, it seems like there was a relatively even split of riders across all three routes. 

The Grand Depart

The grand depart from the Pedal & Pause villa to Oropesa Del Mar was at 7.30am just as the sun was coming up. This gave plenty of time to get parked up, get the bikes ready, load the pockets with gels and the last minute trip to the portaloo – big thanks to the police officer who came to our rescue and  broke into the portaloo! I’ll leave that story for another time. 

Riders were funnelled along a long street in Oropesa and everything was incredibly well organised. As I stood in the pen along with 3,000 other riders anticipating what was to come, the banner dropped, metaphorically, and VAMOS!

Being towards the front of the pack, it was a super-fast start and I felt like every rider around me flew past. It did feel a tiny bit crazy but not unsafe: riders were incredibly skilled and knew what they were doing. My tip for that initial first few km (and this goes for all sportives) is hold your line, don’t make sudden moves and don’t slam the brakes on – try to ride within your limits and before you know it, you’ll be getting a free ride in the peloton to the start of the first climb.

The Route

The closed road route was filled with wide sweeping descents. There’s probably a handful of tighter switchbacks but nothing too technical. If you’re a newer cyclists or less experienced with descending, I think it would convince any rider that the climbing is well worth it to be rewarded with flowing, wide, delightful downhills.

I’ll come onto the climbs next, but if you’re aiming for a time, then it’s worth taking note of where the long flatter/rolling transitional sections are – between 10–20 miles, 62–68 miles plus the final 20 miles to the finish. Have that box of matches handy and be ready to push harder than you may want to so that you keep in the wheels. I can confirm that if you’re on your own, with a head wind, these sections can be energy sapping and are much more fun with others.

The Climbs 

Puerto de Cabanes (6.3km, 4.7%) Taking you from the coast inland, this is a shorter, perfect leg-opener climb to kick off the route. A largely draftable climb and comes early so plenty of riders to set the pace. There is a plateau in the final third where you can take a recovery or keep pushing knowing you are near the top.

Puerto de Serratella (15.3km, 3.7%) A long, sweeping, scenic climb where you can look up and see the switchbacks as they are snaked with riders up ahead. Settle into this one and enjoy the views as they’re breathtaking. If it’s a windy day then watch out for any cross-winds through the pass.

Alto de Culla (12.8km, 2.7%) If you’ve done Port de Tudons, then this has a similar vibe as it’s feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere. With its rolling lead in, it’s a good tempo climb that has the potential to lure you in but on tired legs, can feel harder than it should.

La Bandereta (4.6km, 6.7%) A mini Sa Calobra which is short but with a sting towards the top. Know that when you hit the double-digit steeper section at the top, it’s all downhill to the finish (sort of, with some rolling sections and short punches, but the big climbing is complete).

If you’re opting for the Epic route, then you get the extra Ares del Maestrat (6.8km, 5.5%).

Don’t want to wait for next year?

If don’t want to wait until Unchained 2027 to experience this secret Spanish gem, then how about getting signed up for Pedal & Pause’s La Vuelta Experience where you can join the likes of Roglic, Wout van Aert and Almeida when they take on stage 6 of La Vuelta (27 August 2026), which passes through Benicàssim. 

The ride in numbers

• 160km ridden (196km and 110km routes available)
• 3,000 participants (approx.)
• 2,534 m ascent
• 1050 m highest point
• 6.7% steepest average gradient 15% max gradient (La Bandereta)
• 4 major cols climbed
• 1 Gobik event jersey

How I did it

Travel
Regular flights are available from all major airports and airlines. I flew direct from Stansted to Valencia (one hour transfer from Benicàssim), taking 2hr 25mins, from £26 return with Ryanair, plus luggage and bike box. A closer airport is Castellon de la Plana, from £28 return, and only 30mins from Benicàssim.  

The Pedal & Pause experience
The UNCHAINED 6-night package included airport transfers, accommodation in a private hilltop villa with pool in coastal Benicàssim, secure storage for bikes with tools available, custom team jersey, half-board catering with food prepared by professional chef. The trip included four guided rides catering for different cycling levels with van support and on-ride nutrition. Topped off with entry to the Mediterranean Gran Fondo.

Bike hire
Unlike the main cycling destinations, the area isn’t littered with bike shops. I travelled with my own bike, but bike hire is available – one guest hired a new Basso Astra road bike with Shimano Di2 gears that was set up and at the villa ready for his arrival – this was arranged through Pedal & Pause. 

Alternative options
If you’re looking for a self-catering option, Pedal & Pause have an Airbnb apartment available outside of event dates and local hotels and private accommodation is available.

Thanks
Special mention to the Pedal & Pause team who arranged for me to take my bike to a private mechanic to sort out my front wheel bearings when they sounded like a bag of spanners. That pit stop to clean my bearings saved a ruined cone hub but also saved my fellow riders listening to that horrible noise!

Thank you to all the friendly cyclists along the route who chatted to me. Big apologies when I couldn’t understand Spanish but thankfully cycling is a universal language.