Gran Canaria 2021

Tenerife and the distant volcanic eruption on La Palma viewed on our descent into Gran Canaria

This was the senior team's first visit to cycle Gran Canaria, and this time accompanied by their good ladies for the sake of longer term marital harmony!

Using a TUI package we stayed at the RUI Palace Oasis hotel in Maspalomas, with our cycling adventures orchestrated by the highly capable team at GC Cycling, Deborah Malin and Knut Steffensrud. Always ready to help with anything, armed with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Gran Canaria and both highly capable cyclists, they made our exploration of the island a challenging but wholly enjoyable experience. Our grateful thanks to them both.

Find them at GCCycling.cc They'll be re-starting full operations from October 2022.

Heyddie and Jan covered almost 400km during their eight outings, with over 7000m of ascent. The Prez’s performance was a little more modest, just 300km with 6266m of climbing, reflecting a bad throat and personal dislike of riding in very hot conditions. Not to mention he's over 10kg heavier than his compatriots...

So, what of Gran Canaria? Spectacular inland topography, huge views and with locals tolerant and respectful to cyclists are huge points in its favour. October was maybe a little too warm for comfort at times, and it appears that the cycling season really operates from November through to February/March. The quiet roads, challenging terrain and cooler climate attract the Pro teams like Ineos to GC each year for their pre-season training.

A big week for all involved – the excellent rides and the ladies having to decide what to order at the poolside bar – ensured we all needed a holiday upon our return!

Plaudits issued for Jan, two in fact – The Sartorial Elegance Award and Most Improved Rider. Two for Heyddie too – Most Combative Rider and Worst Socks Cup. And Grumpiest Rider of the Week, of course, goes to The Prez.

Our week on Gran Canaria. Graphic excludes two 'rest day' rides and one coastal section.

Day 1

Our warm up ride, 65km with 1038m of ascent in 3h 16m moving time. An out and back route to Soria, including a section along the south coast. Very hot in some of the sheltered ravines at higher levels, reaching 35ºC at one point. To set the tone for the week, Heyddie and Mr Super Slim, the highly trained Jan, forged ahead of The Prez, aka ‘Sicknote’, who was already suffering from a throat infection (and did so for the rest for the week…but this will be the last mention of this pathetic malady in this blog though…). Stunning scenery, generally good surfaces and impressively polite driving by the locals set the scene nicely for a good week ahead. Just don’t mention bananas to Heyddie.

Day 2

A four-hour ride today, covering 77km with 1452m of ascent. Starting direct from Maspalomas, we ascended a wide valley leading to a narrow defile before descending a narrow and spectacular road to Fataga. Then a long, hot ascent to San Bartholomé de Tirajana on great surfaces, with massive views to the south coast. A coffee and cake stop in the pretty town, before a long and sometimes blustery descent via Santa Lucia de Tirajana to join the main coastal road at El Doctoral back to Maspalomas, a busy section of rolling hills and, by now, unpleasantly hot.

Day 3

Probably the toughest day for us all, with a transfer to the start at Degollada de Cruz Grande before a steady climb up to Ayacata. From here the slope steepened to take us up to the rock pinnacle of Roque Nublo, before a short wooded ascent ahead of a long pull up to the highest point of the island, thankfully shaded by conifer forest in places, the Pico de las Nieves at 1949m. Then a long, spectacular descent to a coffee and cake stop in Tejeda, with more loss of altitude back to Ayacata. Awesome views throughout the ride, and very hot, with temperatures over 40ºC recorded at several points during the day, notably on the final 10km climb back to our start point. 

47km with 1257m of ascent, cycle time 3h20m – beer was definitely earned today!

Day 4

A short ‘rest day’, although one only enjoyed properly by the Prez, whilst Jan and Heyddie took themselves off to the hills again, if only for a couple of hours. A very attractive ride up to Ayagaures on quiet but well-surfaced roads. In all, 32km, with 527m of ascent.

Day 5

A tough day this one, with a 30 minute transfer west to the outskirts of Mogán to meet up with a guest rider for the day, Albert, a member of Heyddie’s home club, Beaconsfield CC.

An easy climb started the day’s proceedings, with a 4km detour to the viewpoint at Veneguera, then back the same way to start the ascent of the Strava segment known as Serenity. 

Immediately steep and very tortuous all the way to the pleasant wooded plateau at the top, this was a good test, and the only one where the Prez just managed to keep up with Heyddie and Jan.

Much hilarity today, mainly directed at Heyddie’s dubious choice of cycling socks.

The descent from Serenity was fantastic, technical with a very steep camber on many of the bends, but a delight and quickly despatched before joining the main route back down to Plato de Mogán. A pleasant lunch by the sea was enjoyed by all.

The plan had been to catch the ferry from here back towards Maspalomas, where we would have completed the day by riding the final 10km along the coast road. However, ferry times were a little uncertain, so the decision was made to transfer by van to the nearby town of Taurito, where the team (minus the Prez who was, by now, too hot), set off on a TT back to base, taking just an hour or so to cover some 26km with 364m of climbing along the undulating coast road.

Day 6

The final full day of riding started with a transfer to El Doctoral, and an initially steady pull up a wide valley, over a ridge and then into another valley system to the north-east. Fine views down to the east coast, shared with locals and motorbike enthusiasts all out to make the most of their Sunday. And another day of woeful socks worn by Heyddie...

A final, steeper slope brought us to Santa Lucia de Tirajana for a coffee and sandwich stop. By now, the temperature was very high, with little breeze to offset it, so the climb out of Santa Lucia towards Santa Bartholomé de Tirajana was somewhat testing. Our reward was a long and enjoyable descent on empty roads to reach the base of our final climb, a high road pass with precipitous drops to the right, breached via a narrowing road with steep switchbacks, an impressive finale which the GC team have named  'Cowboy Valley.' Then a fast descent along a  good road down to Maspalomas. 1412m climbed today, over a distance of 66km, in 3h 43m.

Day 7

Only Heyddie and Jan again today, repeating the ‘rest day’ route on day 4 whilst their ladies did all the packing ready for departure!

GRAC Summer Meet 2021

Having endured eighteen months of pandemic restrictions, this was an opportunity for a wider group of GRAC members to reunite and take on, once again, the multitudinous hills of North Yorkshire.

 

Based from Palace del Pratt in Knaresborough, rehydration in the ever-popular Half Moon started in earnest. The chaps were quickly stuck into Harrogate-brewed Roosters YPA, Rooster Thousand Yard Stare (hazy pale ale) and Turning Point ale from Knaresborough’s local brewhouse. As usual some members seemed to enjoy disco-fizz, although most of us cannot understand why…

Replete with fine food and wine from Anne’s Indian Table, the team retired for a coma before the Palace bells rang loud to get us all going again. Waving us off, the ladies, breathing a huge sigh of relief that we were out of their hair for a few hours, proceeded to walk, eat, and drink champagne for the rest of the day. 

Joined by Carlos from Ripon, the team comprised of The Prez, Heyddie, Jan, Alberto, Stewie and Alansandro. It should be a noted for the club annals that Jan, having trained hard on his Kickr bike through the winter and who is now as thin as a Tour professional, was the man to beat today. Except for Carlos, of course, who has taken to doing solo Ironman adventures, and is, of course, unassailable by the rest of us mere mortals.

 

Our first day took us up to Masham in cool conditions, where a quick coffee was taken before heading west on t’moor and the challenge of Trapping Hill. As always, a hard challenge, especially for the Prez who is now packing 10kg more weight than our new puncheur Jan, for Heyddie nursing an injury, and Alberto, who deserves maximum respect as the most senior member of the club. 

Strava results for Trapping Hill...where's Alberto?

The ‘youngsters’ Alansandro and Stewie did well, considering both of them had almost forgotten how to ride a bike. 

The alarmingly steep descent to Lofthouse was safely navigated by all, white-hot discs warming our legs at the bottom, followed by the usual TT down to Pateley Bridge, great fun on a very quiet road. Huge beef sandwiches at the excellent Wildings Tea Room were quickly dispatched by all, before climbing back to base via the ‘Four Hills’ route, with some sneaky 18% slopes for Jan to showboat on. In all, 87.5km with 1403m of climbing in just over 4 hours.

Massive rehydration and refuelling was required by all, taken intravenously at the Palace and then back to the Half Moon again, this time joined by the ladies, and junior team members Evie and Finley. Another fine dinner, with local lamb, finished off the day nicely.

And, up we get again, a little worse for wear, to do it all again, this time an 83km loop with 892m of ascent, taking in Nidderdale and Wharfedale via Wetherby. Busier roads today with fine weather conditions and local nouveau riche showing off their Porsches, Aston Martins and horse boxes with some insanely fast overtakes…

But beautiful riding and some fine views on many sections of the ride, and another opportunity for Jan to show off his impressive hill-climbing prowess. Chapeau Jan! Tired bodies required a quick refuel on our return and then a long nap, before a final visit to the Half Moon and a BBQ meal at the Bear at Carriages in Knaresborough.

 

All in all, a fine weekend, with great company, splendid and generous hospitality at the Palace, and some proper riding too. It’s so good to be out of lockdown!