MAY 2026 · EVENT SPECIAL
The Road to Aitana: Preparing for the V Aitana Tour
165 km. 3,400 metres of climbing. Four of the Costa Blanca’s greatest passes. One unforgettable day.
📅 Sunday, 31 May 2026 · Callosa d’en Sarrià
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165 km Gran Fondo |
3,400 m Elevation |
4 Mountain Passes |
1,700 Max Riders |
In just five editions, the Aitana Tour has established itself as one of the finest gran fondos in Spain. It starts and finishes in the market town of Callosa d’en Sarrià, a 25-minute drive inland from Calpe, and proceeds to take you over four of the most celebrated mountain passes in the province of Alicante. The climbs you’ve been training on all spring — Coll de Rates, Puerto de Tudons, Puerto de Confrides — are all here, strung together in a single epic day.
Whether you’re targeting the full 165 km Gran Fondo or the 100 km Medio Fondo, this newsletter gives you everything you need to arrive at the start line ready.
Choose Your Route
| GRAN FONDO
The Full Challenge — 165 km 165 km · 3,400 m elevation · 4 major passes The complete Aitana Tour experience. From Callosa, the route climbs deep into the interior via Puerto de Confrides, crosses to Puerto de Tudons — the highest pass in Alicante province at 1,024 metres — then takes in Sa Creueta before the legendary Coll de Rates as the final timed climb of the day. This is a serious undertaking. Budget 7–9 hours and arrive at the start line with a solid base of long rides in the legs. |
| MEDIO FONDO
The Smart Option — 100 km 100 km · 1,900 m elevation · 2 major passes The Medio Fondo splits off at kilometre 99.8 on the CV-715. You still take on Puerto de Confrides and the early climbs, finishing back in Callosa before the route heads out to Tudons and Coll de Rates. This is still a proper day out — 1,900 metres of climbing is no joke — but it’s the right choice if your April training hasn’t quite gone to plan, or if you’re riding your first gran fondo on the Costa Blanca. |
The Four Passes
| 1. Puerto de Confrides — via Ares del Bosc
4.6 km · 257 m elevation · Beautiful but demanding ascent The third climb of the march and the last challenge of the Medio Fondo route. Redesigned for this edition — the organisation has rerouted via Benifallim to make the ascent harder and more spectacular. A real wake-up call after the opening kilometres. |
| 2. Puerto de Tudons — via Sella
12 km · 5.3% avg · 603 m elevation · 1,024 m summit · Timed segment The roof of the Aitana Tour and the highest mountain pass in Alicante province. Twelve kilometres with an average of 5.3% and sections hitting 11%. This is where the Gran Fondo is won and lost. Pace it carefully — there are still two climbs to come. |
| 3. Puerto de Sa Creueta
Featured in La Vuelta a España · Spectacular ridge-line views A Vuelta a España climb that winds along an exposed ridge with views across the full breadth of the Costa Blanca interior. By this point in the Gran Fondo you will have over 2,500 metres in the legs. Ride it to your own rhythm. |
| 4. Coll de Rates — The Grand Finale
6.7 km · 6.7% avg · 14.1% max · 350 m elevation · Timed segment The most famous climb on the Costa Blanca saves itself for last. After 150+ kilometres you’ll tackle the Coll de Rates in a timed segment from Parcent to the summit. The descent to Tarbena, and the final roll back into Callosa, is one of the most satisfying moments in cycling. |
| 🏆 2026 EVENT AMBASSADOR
Roberto Heras — Four-Time Vuelta a España Champion This year’s Aitana Tour has a remarkable guest. Roberto Heras — the most decorated rider in La Vuelta’s history, sharing the record with Primož Roglič — will ride alongside all participants as the official event ambassador. If you’ve ever wanted to share a mountain road with a Grand Tour champion, May 31st is your day. |
Your 4-Week Preparation Plan
With the event on May 31st, you have the whole of May to build specific fitness. Here’s a structured four-week block designed around the Costa Blanca’s roads.
| Week | Key Session | Focus |
| Week 1 May 4–10 | Coll de Rates ×2 repeats + Val d’Ebo | Build climbing endurance. Keep effort at 75–80% FTP. |
| Week 2 May 11–17 | Long ride 120–140 km with Puerto de Tudons | Race-specific climbing. Practise fuelling every 45 min. |
| Week 3 May 18–24 | Back-to-back: 80 km Sat + 100 km Sun | Fatigue resistance. Simulate tired-legs climbing on Day 2. |
| Week 4 May 25–31 | Taper — 50% volume, short sharp efforts only | Arrive fresh. Trust your training. |
| 💡 RACE DAY TIPS
● Start conservative. The first 40 km feel easy. Riders who go too hard early pay for it on Puerto de Tudons. ● Fuel early and often. At 165 km and 3,400 m of climbing you need to eat from kilometre 1, not when you feel hungry. ● Know the cut-off point. At km 99.8 on the CV-715, riders not on pace for the full route are directed to the Medio Fondo finish. ● Savour the Coll de Rates descent. After everything you’ve been through, those hairpins down to Tarbena deserve to be enjoyed. |
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🎪 Gran Zona Expo — Saturday 30 May The day before the ride, the Polideportivo Municipal in Callosa hosts a free public cycling expo — open to all. Bike brands, local industry, rider registration, and the atmosphere of a major event the night before. Well worth making a weekend of it. → aitanatour.com |
| 📅 Also in May
Don’t forget the Mediterránea Triatlón Alicante (16–17 May) for multi-sport athletes. Covered in upcoming newsletters. |
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