Cycling tourism on the rise. Credit: Frog17 / Creative Commons
The Costa Blanca has firmly established itself as the winter ‘mecca’ for elite cycling. The region’s favourable climate and mountainous terrain attract over a dozen of the 18 World Tour teams during the pre-season. Stars like Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard join riders such as Juan Ayuso, João Almeida, and Isaac del Toro in training camps across the area. However, the influx of teams brings challenges: local residents, drivers, and recreational cyclists have reported safety concerns and road congestion caused by the growing presence of professional squads.
Records that cement its reputation
An anecdote illustrating the region’s global cycling relevance comes from last season, when Tadej Pogacar smashed the ascent record at Coll de Rates. He completed the 6.42-kilometre climb in just 12 minutes and 21 seconds, beating Jonas Vingegaard’s previous mark by 41 seconds. This achievement confirmed Coll de Rates as a world-class testing ground, further elevating Marina Alta’s status in the World Tour circuit.
Cycling tourism on the rise
Cycling tourism in Marina Alta is booming. Traditionally, professional teams concentrated in Calp, Dénia, and Pedreguer. Now, more towns host riders, while some teams base themselves in nearby areas and focus training on the inland roads of the comarca. The increased presence of elite cyclists has turned the region into a pre-season hub of international importance.
Key teams preparing for 2026
Among the World Tour teams preparing for the 2026 season in Marina Alta are:
UAE Team Emirates, Pogacar’s squad, headquartered in Benidorm.
Soudal Quick-Step, winter base in Calpe.
Bahrain Victorious, returning to Altea alongside Astana.
Jayco AlUla, settled in Denia.
Ineos Grenadiers, stationed in Oliva.
Calp strengthens its reputation as a top destination through institutional agreements. The Soudal Quick-Step team will return this winter as part of a sponsorship deal with the City Council. Coach Koen Pelgrim highlights the town’s terrain, climate, and hospitality as ideal for pre-season preparation.
Javea joins the peloton
Javea has recently joined this elite cycling circuit, thanks to the opening of a four-star SH hotel with 131 rooms. The new facility already hosts Pinarello-Q36.5, led by charismatic British cyclist Tom Pidcock, allowing the town to ride the wave of cycling tourism and expand the comarca’s appeal.
Economic boost and sustainability debate
The growing presence of elite cycling provides a significant economic boost to the local tourism sector during autumn and winter months. Yet, this unprecedented success has sparked debates over road safety and sustainability, highlighting the challenges of balancing economic gain with public welfare.
Complaints about congestion and safety
High concentrations of professional riders and support vehicles have triggered complaints from locals, drivers, and recreational cyclists. Concerns focus on road congestion, particularly on inland training routes. A triathlon website recently highlighted a cyclist lamenting: “Professional teams are turning Alicante’s mountains into chaos.” He added that traffic on training roads can rival central Madrid at peak hours and described feeling unsafe sharing the road with large squads training at high speed on Coll de Rates.
Incidents reveal tensions
The tension is visible on Coll de Rates, where the Team Lidl-Trek recently caused a “traffic bottleneck” during a filming session, forcing UAE Team Emirates riders to stop temporarily. Such congestion, combined with the high density of cyclists, strengthens the view that authorities may need to impose restrictions to prevent accidents and delays.
The need for balance
Ten riders from the French professional team Groupama‑FDJ were fined €100 each on Thursday by Llíber’s local police after running a red light during a pre-season training ride. Officers acted after the cyclists crossed a section of road with the light in red, even entering the opposite lane on a narrow street in the town centre. This meant a total fine of €1,000 for the professional squad. The challenge is to maintain its prestige and the safety of residents alike.