Cycling Lanzarote
Traveling to a new country is often an exercise in sensory overload. From culture, to food, to the surrounding cityscapes and landscapes; exploring a new area can be the adventure of a lifetime. As passionate cyclists, we like to use the bike as a way to connect to and get to know new places. And our trip to Lanzarote, Spain was no different. A popular cycling destination, we managed to cover just under 200km over two days on the windy roads of this volcanic island.
Our first day on the bike consisted of 100 kilometers.
When I initially planned the route, I thought it would be a “light” day. Only 100 km I said. Only 1200 meters of climbing I said. No one mentioned the intensity of the WIND, which is constant across the island. I have no words for the 20+kmh winds that hit you when heading north. (Did I mention the steepest climb heads north?) Well, I take that back; the lead up to the climb, after the Papagayo roundabout, is about 4 kilometers at a steady 5-6% gradient. On paper this would seem relatively unimpressive. But, when you add a 20+ km/h headwind to the mix, now you’ve got yourself a lung buster. But, the best is yet to come, the final kilometer is absolutely brutal. Thank God it is only a kilometer!
The initial route took us through Timanfaya; a volcanic National Park traveling along the western coast towards Playa Blanca.
Entrance to Timanfaya National Park
Riding through this veritable wasteland of volcanic rock, it felt serene, peaceful, and other-worldly.
National Park Landscape
From there, we headed to west to El Golfo and south along route LZ-703 to take in the vivid blue water against the black volcanic rock. Now that the easy part of the ride was complete, we headed north to the steepest climb on the island, Femés. Finally, we stopped for lunch in the vineyards at the lovely Bodegas Rubicón; a small winery and restaurant.
The volcanic vineyards of the wine country
I recommend the octopus, mushroom and shrimp casserole. It had excellent flavor and was filling without being heavy. They also have some excellent wine which you can sample in the attached shop. From there, we headed back to Club La Santa; the resort we stayed at.
Our second day on the bike was only about 85km
Heading south from La Santa, we passed towards the village of Soo, through Munique, around Tiagua and on through Tao and Mozaga. Then we headed north through Teguise and then up the longest and most popular climb, Tabayesco. At 10.5 km and an average of 5.5% the climb is nice and steady. You will find yourself able to get into a rhythm and just go. You will eventually end up on Mirador de Haria; the highest point on the island!
Our stay on Lanzarote, while brief, offered some great benefits to further our spring training. I think the most memorable was, by far, the wind. Resistance training at its best! For us, the warm weather and dry climate offered a reprieve from Germany’s cold and wet winter. Plus, the volcanic mountains offered decent climbs and spectacular views! All in all I we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Club La Santa and the island of Lanzarote!
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