Spain Andalucia Coast to Summit Cycling

Overview

Ride from the Mediterranean to the highest paved road in Europe: from the beach at Motril the tarmac climbs through the orange groves of the Lecrín Valley to Granada, then grinds up the A-395 past the Sierra Nevada ski station to Hoya de la Mora, where a barrier stops cars and bikes carry on up crumbling asphalt into thin air beneath the Veleta's 3,396 m summit pyramid — some 110 km and well over 3,300 m of climbing from sea level to snow line in a single enormous day. The final kilometres, above the last vegetation with the Mediterranean shimmering far behind, are ridden on willpower alone. Altitude is what catches out strong riders: power fades markedly above 2,500 m, and the descent is bitterly cold even in August — carry a windproof, arm warmers and full-finger gloves whatever the valley temperature says. The upper road is only reliably clear of snow from late June to September. Base yourself in Granada for the week (around £750 covers cycling-friendly lodging, food and a rest-day Alhambra ticket — book the Alhambra weeks ahead) and warm up on the Monachil and Hazallanas climbs beloved of professional training camps.

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Prefilled for 1 June 2027 — the next best-season window. Search on partner sites — opens in a new tab.