
€3 ,160.00 – €3 ,535.00
GranFondo coaching camp in the Canary Islands. 6 days cycling with experienced coaches to improve your performance, speed, endurance, and safety while cycling in the mountains. Prepare for your summer objectives in the Alps.
PLEASE SEND BOOKING ENQUIRIES BY EMAIL TO MARVIN (info@alpinecols.com)
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Difficulty :
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Dates : 31 Jan to 7 Feb 2026
Purpose of the camp
NEW: we have completely renewed the camp for 2026, to include three days on the island of La Gomera. This is a true cyclist’s paradise with wonderful, quiet roads, a superb hotel and stunning views across to Mt Teide on Tenerife. We have of course kept our technical workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions, with our trademark strong focus on technique to help you improve your performance.
After 9 years, the purpose of this camp remains the same: for you to get a head start on the new season and launch your preparation for your Granfondo or sportive objectives. The focus is on improving your skills, especially in climbing and descending, while building your base endurance.
The Canary Islands are truly an incredible destination for cycling. The quality of the roads is excellent, and with the amazing El Teide volcano on Tenerife – the highest and longest continuous climb in Europe – it’s not surprising the pro teams continue to do much of their winter training there.
Read below and click on the tabs for more, or download our e-brochure
Is this coaching camp for you?
YES: if you want to learn to cycle faster, especially for events like the Haute Route, the Marmotte or the Etape du Tour.
YES: if you want to make friends and have fun with other like-minded people.
YES: if you want to experience the charm of the Canary Islands, well away from the main tourist centres.
NO: if you are essentially a leisure rider with no particular interest in riding faster.
NO: if you prefer the lifestyle associated with large hotels and easy access to bars, nightclubs etc.
Coaching camp highlights
On the bike
- The roads in the Canary Islands are generally in excellent condition and the weather much warmer than elsewhere in Europe in January and February.
- The rides are appropriate for the time of year, including a mix of both short and long climbs and descents at different gradients.
- The pace is at an easy, base-miles endurance level. Different groups will form so that you ride with people at your own level.
- You can always ride harder if you wish, and the coaches will help you define your own training camp objectives and daily pace.
- The coach to rider ratio is 1:5 or better, ensuring that you will have plenty of one-on-one coaching.
- There is a strong focus on technique with plentiful use of video for analysis and feedback.
Off the bike
- Recovery is the first priority, with a great post-ride buffet lunch back at the hotel followed by optional stretching sessions, and/or massage.
- Daily debrief with a coach looking at your ride file and power data.
- Evening sessions on topics such as :
- Maximising power while climbing
- Descending fast and safely
- Optimising your training
- Eating and drinking for performance
- Competing in Granfondos and sportives
- Time to relax in wonderful, authentic surroundings. Enjoy a coffee and pastry in one of the numerous local cafés.
Date | Coaching Focus | Climbs | Distance & Elevation |
---|---|---|---|
Sat | Arrival day | - | - |
Sun | Descending Clinic | Vilaflor | 65km / 1,600m+ |
Mon | Climbing | TF-28, El Poris, Granadilla | 82km / 1,800m+ |
Tue | Pacing | El Contadero (from San Sebastian) | 65km / 1,900m+ |
Wed | Long climbs | El Contadero, from Playa Santiago (W) | 100km / 3,000m+ |
Thu | Nutrition | El Contadero, from Playa Santiago (E) | 66km / 2,000m+ |
Fri | Endurance | Mt Teide | 76km / 2,000m+ |
Sat | Departure Day | - | - |
Download our e-brochure for stage profiles
Saturday
You will be picked up at the airport on Tenerife (TFS) and taken to the hotel in Los Abrigos*.
Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to have a late lunch or set up your bike immediately and go for a short check-out ride.
The camp begins with a welcome drink and briefing at 18:30, followed by dinner in the hotel with the coaches and other riders.
* Please let us know if you would like to arrive early and need extra nights at the hotel.
Sunday
Distance: 65km
Elevation: 1,600m+
Ride time: 4-5 hours
Focus: Descending
We begin the week with a climb to the famous village of Vilaflor, the essential focal point for the climb to Teide from the south. The climb is a total of 36km and we gain 1,580m. It is quite irregular over the total distance with some flatter sections and slight descents.
After a stop in a café in Vilaflor we will conduct the descending clinic on a set of hairpin bends on the way to Granadilla. Each rider has the chance to descend multiple times while being videoed and receive immediate feedback on technique.
There are several options to extend this ride if anyone wants to do more.
Monday
Distance: 82km
Elevation: 1,800m+
Ride time: 5-6 hours
Focus: Climbing
For our second ride we will climb up to the famous TF-28, the balcony road which runs all the way along the SE slopes of Teide from north to south. We take this for 10km or so before descending to Poris for the morning coffee stop at sea level.
The return ride is back up for another 30km along the TF-28 before pour return to the hotel. The day’s coaching focus will be on climbing technique, as well as reinforcing the descending lessons from the previous day.
Tuesday
Distance: 65km
Elevation: 1,900m+
Ride time: 4-5 hours
Focus: Pacing
We will take the 08:30 ferry to La Gomera. The crossing takes 50 minutes, so we should be ready to start the ride soon after 09:30. The climb from the port at San Sebastian to the National Park is 24km, for an altitude gain of 1,400m.
The scenery is simply stunning. Camera phones at the ready!
After a well-earned break we will descend across the plateau before a final short climb and then a long descent down the southern slopes of the mountain to our hotel at Playa Santiago.
Wednesday
Distance: 100km
Elevation: 3,000m+
Ride time: 6-7 hours
Focus: Long climbs
Wednesday is unquestionably the “Queen Stage”, with 3,000m of climbing. We start directly from the hotel and climb El Contadero from Playa Santiago. This is a 22km climb at an average of 6.2%, finishing at 1,350m.
Once over the top, there’s a short descent followed by 8km up and down on a plateau at about 1,000m of altitude, before descending almost to sea level at Vallehermoso, in the north of the island.
What comes down must go up! We climb 1,200m back to the top via another route, over 25km. The final descent back to the hotel is a delight.
Thursday
Distance: 66km
Elevation: 2,000m+
Ride time: 5 hours
Focus: Nutrition
For our final ride on La Gomera we return over the top of the island, following the route descended on Wednesday. This time we go as far as Agulo, in the NE of the island, before turning south and climbing back over the eastern flank of the mountain before descending to San Sebastian. There are fabulous views of the island of Tenerife.
We cross back to Tenerife on one of the afternoon ferries and transfer by minibus (with an option to ride if desired) to our final (and favourite) hotel, the wonderful, quirky Senderos di Abona in Granadilla.
Friday
Distance: 76km
Elevation: 2,000m+
Ride time: 5-6 hours
Focus: Endurance
Friday is for many the highlight of the week, as we head to the northern part of the island for a very special home-made Canary Islands Paella at Marcos and Alberto’s family house. But first, there’s the little matter of a mountain to climb…
For the strongest riders, this is the chance to do the longest continuous climb in Europe: from sea-level to the lip of the Teide volcano. The total climb is 35km and 2,200m+.
The main group will start climbing directly from the hotel in Granadilla, skipping the first 650m from sea-level.
We will cross the volcano crater and go on to the highest point at 2,350m before descending down the northern side to our final destination.
The return to the hotel will be by minibus.
Saturday
Departure* day! If your flight is late enough, you may be able to fit in an early-morning spin.
For most, though, it will be an opportunity to enjoy a relaxed Canary Islands breakfast in the beautiful Hotel Rural Senderos de Abona before packing up and leaving for the airport.
*If you plan to stay on a few extra days and would like some help with hotels and logistics, please let us know.
Our first hotel, on Tenerife, is the Barcelo, a modern, 5* hotel on the beach at Los Abrigos. The rooms are very well appointed and the food is excellent.
Our second hotel is on La Gomera. The delightful Jardin Tecina in Playa Santiago is a tasteful 4*, hotel on the cliff with outstanding views and great swimming and spa facilities.
Our final hotel is the Hotel Rural Senderos de Abona, Granadilla (Tenerife), where we will spend the last three nights. This is as different from the mass-market tourist hotels as possible. The family-run hotel is full of character, affording us the authentic Canary Islands experience.
The photo below is of one of the rooms.
We will take our meals either at the hotels or in small local restaurants where they know how to feed hungry cyclists with delicious local dishes.
The map below shows the location of the Barcelo, the first hotel we will use on Tenerife.
31 Jan to 7 Feb 2026
Package price (twin-share): €3,160
Single supplement: €375
We offer a 5% “welcome back” discount to all returnees, and a 10% discount for a second trip in the same year. Ask us for the code!
Payments
Starting in 2026, your payment should be made directly to our longstanding partner in Tenerife, Tenerife Bike Tours. Please contact Marvin (info@alpinecols.com) for booking details and any questions.
Your money is safe
As required by EU law, your payments are fully protected by an approved insurance policy against the very unlikely event of financial failure/insolvency of Tenerife Bike Tours.
What’s included
- Airport transfers Tenerife (TFS)
- Return ferry from Tenerife to La Gomera
- Accommodation
- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner, including mineral water with the meal)
- On-the-bike coaching
- On-the-road support vehicle with free energy drinks and snacks, spare wheels and space for extra clothes etc.
- Mechanical assistance
- Coach’s Corner evening sessions on cycling performance
- Photographs and videos taken during the week (digital copies)
Not included
- Travel to and from Tenerife (TFS)
- Bicycle hire (ask for a quote)
- Minibar or drinks at the hotel bar
- Coffee or snacks during café stops
- Massage (optional extra)