road cycling escapes
We run scheduled trips, provisionally allocating dates to road, gravel or MTB escapes that anyone can join. Outside of scheduled trips, other dates can be booked subject to availability. We are open 12 months of the year.
With miles more routes, riding variety and climbs on offer than anywhere else in the region (looking at you Calpe, Denia and Jalon) there is something for everyone when riding from our base in Ontinyent, Valencia. We offer Guided and Self-Guided cycling escapes, for individuals, couples and friends either joining scheduled weeks to ride with other cycling loving guests or private bookings, including larger groups wanting exclusive use of our fabulous cycle retreat.
For more relaxed and shorter rides between 30-60km nowhere else comes close to matching the sheer variety of riding; and for longer or faster rides, within a 20-50km radius there’s more than 60 climbs on offer with every kind of gradient. There’s no repeating the of same climbs and same routes day to day and guests could stay for weeks riding something new each day.
We cater for different abilities with multiple groups led by different guides, so everyone gets the ride they want.
For those wanting a challenge, only escapar is able to offer out and bikes rides to all of biggest mountains, not just Tudons. We also ride to the climbs of Font Roja, Port del Moro, Puerto Carresqueta, Puerto Canalis, Reconco de Biar, Puerto Perigri, Xorret de Cati, Serra Mariola, Benifallim and Confrides amongst many more that others just can’t reach.
What’s it like?
Take the best bits of Denia, Calpe and Jalon, make the traffic and busy roads and cars vanish, add vastly more routes and more high mountains, throw in verdant green scenery, national parks, rivers and rolling Tuscan hills, historic towns, the better road surfaces and cycling infrastructure of the Valencian region and you start to see why we choose here over Calpe and Jalon. Did we mention it's drier here in the winter too?
When?
Casa Sanz, our own luxury retreat, is open year-round giving us more flexibility with bookings and the ability to offer better value packages for guests. Our main road cycling season runs from September to June. July and August are available upon request; although this usually means earlier starts and finishes and relaxing by the pool in afternoons. However, we do absolutely love a summer sunset ride.
March, April, May, early June, September and October are the busiest periods, so be sure to book early to secure preferred dates. December through to February are also really fantastic times to visit. Morning’s are cooler, but the weather inland is very dry and often sunny making for excellent blue sky winter riding. All of the roads and passes remain open and the area makes for a much better choice than either Mallorca or Girona, that are typically much wetter or colder.
During peak season, our scheduled weeks are 7 nights, Sunday to Sunday and our 4 night options run from Wed to Sunday. We offer options for 11-14 nights. Please contact us for alternate dates and durations.
club training camps
We offer bespoke packages with a group discount for groups of 8-12. We can accommodate groups up to 16 people, as four of our rooms are large triples. For groups larger than 16, we work with a partner Finca to provide additional rooms.
Club training camps are typically 4-7 nights and it is possible to ride on the day of arrival and departure, subject to flight times. Training camps can be guided or Self-Guided with GPS routes we provide.
climbers week
For really strong riders who want to tackle longer routes with more of the classic big climbs in the highest mountains of the region. This is not most groups, as there could be multiple 100-150km days with 2000-4000m or more metres of climbing. That said, with so much on our doorstep, some days be could much less than 100km and still offer lots of elevation!
We run this week upon request and not as a Scheduled Package, as there’s usually enough distance and elevation available for most riders on our standard road riding packages, where often have more than one group to cater for mixed abilities, which might include cyclists with experience of events such as the Marmotte and L’Etape.
gravel cycling
We gravel all year round and are located in the most amazing location for endless miles of off- road fun. Our gravel adventures vary from gentler gradients on smoother gravel routes to some of the biggest gravel climbs in the region. Some of the gravel here is groomed and maintained too!
Ontinyent lies on Clariano floodplain in heart the of the Vall d’Albaida, where agriculture, wine and farming have played a key role for thousands of years, on fertile land ideal for farmers, goats, tracks and gravelling routes! To the west lies the Tuscany of Valencia, with its rolling hills, strada Bianchi (Albaida comes from the Moorish for white land / soil) and vineyards of the Fontanars DOC nestled on a mountain plateau less than 20km from Ontinyent, where we still keep discovering new routes after years of exploration.
The Serra Grossa and Serra Enguera mountans offer gentler hills to the north, and the Serra Mariola, Benicadell and Serra Ombria mountains to the south; together with Via Verdes and the Costera plains stretching east towards the coast, offer thousands of km’s of gravel adventures unmatched by anywhere else in the region.
Closer to Denia and Calpe, the valleys are narrow and steep sided, making for gnarly difficult climbing and technical gravel descending mostly better suited to a MTB. Whilst there are flat gravel rides on the coast between Gandia and Valencia , these routes don’t make for great out and bike rides or multi day options. Gravel routes south towards Alicante and beyond are typically dry, dusty scrubland to remind you of a spaghetti western movie and again don’t lend themselves to doable distances on out and back rides for most riders.
What’s it like?
The trails start less than 1km from Casa Sanz and it’s possible to spend the whole day off road, as unlike many locations, we don’t need to link the gravel riding with long sections of tarmac. It’s straight onto the good stuff. And staying there.
Some of the most fantastic routes sit on endless mountain ridges that can run for 20-30km, linking ancient towns and villages, but may require a challenging climb to get there. There are lots of descents on offer. Some routes are less challenging and follow the course of a river or a valley.
We tailor the riding to the abilities of the group and to some degree the type of gravel bike that guests bring. To get the most from the area, easy gears across a wide range combined with bigger tyres opens up a lifetime’s worth of riding opportunities.
Each day our rides have a sense purpose and adventure, from visiting beautiful mountain towns such as Bocairent, Agres or Biar, or riding ancient routes such as Camino del Cid, Via Augusta or GR7, or visiting bodegas, ice caves and mountain peaks.
We also have our fleet e-gravel bikes, hard tail MTB and e-MTBs, all of which are suitable for most of the gravel routes.
When
We schedule a number of 4 to 7-night guided gravel escapes throughout the year during the road cycling season. Our run Sunday to Sunday and our 4-night options run from Wed to Sunday. We also offer options for 11 to 14-night extensions.
We also offer Self-Guided Gravel Packages throughout the year, suited to the those on their own bikes and at peace with their navigation device! Private group bookings are available throughout the year, please contact us for a bespoke quote with your preferred dates.
We also run a number of single day events, to give riders the opportunity to try gravel riding, with the option or post ride meals and drinks.
mountain bike
With so many mountains and ancient trails surrounding Ontinyent, there’s a huge amount of MTB riding available, both technical and non-technical on largely natural trails and managed fire roads to get up the climbs.
What’s it like? Most of our riding is XC focused adventure, with a mixture of trail riding and some optional Enduro style descents. We usually wear lycra like the locals do and don’t ride with pads and full-face helmets, bike park trips excluded. However, many of our British guests don’t quite manage to forego the baggies! The trails start 1km from the Casa and there are multiple climbs in every direction to get to the higher ridges and descents. The rides tend to be a half or full day of riding, configured as out and back loops, with a coffee or lunch stop in a mountain town along the way, sometimes two.
For riders wanting a challenge, we have many challenging climbs, such as the Fat Head Trail at over 12km and 700m, Montcabrer 17km and 1000m, as well climbs of Mas de Llopis, Port del Moro Cami a Ponce, Turmalet (pronounce both T’s!), Alt del Figeroles and many more. Two of the best longer technical trail/enduro descents finish minutes from Casa too. Both the Sant Esteve and Senda a Ponce are 4.5km long and offer everything with a mix rock gardens, steep single track, drops and ledges.
The Hidden Valley is one of our weekend favoruites too, requiring a 20km climb come ridge route, followed by 8km of gentle flowing descent and heading to a Tapas lunch at one of favourite Cafes. Guests also love the non-technical days to Font Freda, Fontanars and Font de le Figuera, where it’s all about the stunning scenery.
When
We schedule a number of 4-7 night guided MTB escapes throughout the year. Our trips usually run Sunday to Sunday and our 4-night options run from Wed to Sunday. We also offer options for 11-14 night extensions.
Check our MTB winter weekend specials from November to March
Private solo and group bookings, guided and self-guided are also available throughout the year, please contact us for a bespoke quote with your preferred dates.
if you're Valencia ....
Being one hour away from Valencia, we offer private packages for those visiting the city for business or pleasure, where you can add some of the best cycling in Spain to your trip
Options include 1 day packages e.g. same day pick up / return inclusive of a days guided riding and meal, or longer stays inclusive of overnight accommodation. Some guests choose to arrive via train, where we provide free pick up from Ontinyent station.
bespoke packages
Your perfect cycling holiday, your way.
Where else can you and your friends craft an amazing cycling holiday, that allows you to pick and choose when you ride road bike and perhaps try a day or two or gravel biking or MTB riding. Or perhaps and MTB focused week with some road or gravel cycling? With a bespoke package,
you can hire the bikes you need by the day and be looked after our by our professional guides, no matter what type of ride and where it might take you.
Perhaps you want an 14 day road cycling trip with different departure/arrival days with a day of wine tasting in Fontanars, guided for just for the first week. May be different members of your group want to arrive and depart on different days? Whatever your requirements, give us a call because we’ve got you covered.
When
We offer bespoke packages throughout the year, subject to availability during peak season.
