On Your Bike

Spain has over 2,800 kilometres of disused railways that have been converted into traffic-free "greenways" for use by cyclists, walkers, horse-riders, etc.

The ever-expanding nationwide network currently includes 11 former rail routes within the Valencian Community.

FEATURE

Amid the numerous topics and issues dealt with on a regular basis in the specialist cycling media - bicycle paths, carbon components, electronic shifting, urban transport, disc brakes, health and fitness benefits, women's racing, bike-sharing, gravel riding, smart trainers, folding bikes, etc., etc., etc. -, there's a curiously ambigious place reserved for the "e-bike", seemingly situated at an equidistant point between unbridled praise, general indifference and outright rejection.

A relatively unknown climb outside the circle of local cyclists, Coll de Fredes' 16 kilometres of forest and hairpins take us deep into one of the Valencian Community's most beautiful areas and provide spectacular views of a unique landscape. Of middling difficulty, it is perhaps more of a challenge due to its length and the heat in summer months than the gradient of the climb itself.

Alicante-based Belgian Seb Nolens, or #TCRNo6cap54 as he's known to his nearest and dearest, will join @300 other participants to take on the challenge of the Transcontinental Race Nº6 at the end of July: @4000 km of distance and @40,000 metres of vertical climbing between Belgium and Greece, a full-on, two-week grinder up mountain passes, through distant valleys, often in sweltering heat and along gravel roads and asphalt. Lots and lots of asphalt. We talk to him to find out what lies behind his decision to put himself through such an extreme test.

Road sign indicating minimum legal overtaking distance on Gandia - Simat Protected Cycling Route

In July 2017, the Director General of Traffic, Gregorio Serrano, presented Spain’s new Protected Cycling Routes network, one of the measures included in the Directorate General of Traffic's (DGT) Action Plan aimed at increasing the protection of cyclists on Spanish roads following the upturn in fatalities registered in 2016.

The Protected Cycling Routes have been selected in collaboration with public authorities, institutions and cycling associations, including the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation and the Spanish Professional Cyclists Association. According to Serrano, “the aim of this measure is to protect the thousands of cyclists who take to the roads mainly at the weekends to practice cycling, thus providing them with specially-controlled routes”.

The Provincial Council of Valencia's northern province, Castellón, is promoting cycling tourism by means of 31 cycling routes covering 2,347 kilometres throughout the province

The Castellón Provincial Council, which is committed to cycling as a source of new opportunities for the development of the region’s towns and villages, has created 31 cycling routes covering some 2,347 kilometres spread throughout the entire province.

This project sees the Provincial Council add these specialized routes to the region’s existing tourism offer, which already includes the promotion of leisure and competitive cycling throughout Castellón under the umbrella of the Castellón Escenario Deportivo programme.

The Chair of the Provincial Council, Javier Moliner, recently presented the hard copies of the routes’ guidebooks in an event held before a group of cycling club members and touring cyclists. The content of the print versions of the guides is already available for downloading at www.turismodecastellon.com.

“We believe in Castellón’s potential, and we have already seen that sport represents health and positive values, as well as wealth, employment and opportunities for our people and our towns and villages. And it is this conviction that has led to this initiative to improve the promotion of the region’s cycling attractions and resources, both for Castellón’s own cyclists and for the thousands of tourists who never leave home without their bikes”, said Moliner.

Moliner went on to explain that "these are the most complete guides to cycle touring routes in our province published so far. They cover a total of 31 routes of all levels and include the region’s main locations of interest, because in addition to providing exercise, this sport enables visitors to enjoy Castellón’s landscapes, towns and gastronomy.”

Each guidebook includes a technical profile and an explanation of the municipalities the route passes through, as well as eating recommendations and the main tourist attractions to visit in the area.

Cycle tourism, strategic for the future of tourism in Castellón

The Castellón Provincial Council's promotion of cycling in the province is conceived from a cross-cutting perspective: by providing promotional and specialized material, by encouraging the adaptation of the province’s tourism offer to the needs of cycle tourists by means of lines of support, by participating in specialized trade fairs and by promoting the celebration of cycling events in the province’s towns and villages.

Cycle tourists figure as a priority target group within the Provincial Council Tourism Marketing Plan, as well as within the Castellón Province’s Strategic Tourism Plan for 2017-2020.

For further information about Castellón's cycle routes, as well as downloadable guides:

Have fun and discover Castellón on two wheels

Volta Ciclista a Castelló 2018 

The Castellón Provincial Council is lending its support to the Volta Ciclista a Castelló 2018 stage race, the thirty-sixth edition of which will take place in the province from June 7 to 10. This upcoming edition will once again see this emblematic cycling event take its place as one of the province’s main sport tourism references: the event is responsible for more than 1200 bed nights and generates a direct economic impact of more 150,000 euros in the province’s municipalities.

The Chair of the Castellón Provincial Council, Javier Moliner, has signed a collaboration agreement with the Chair of the SEPELACO Cycling Club and race director, José Cabedo. The agreement includes a contribution of 40,000 euros from the Provincial Council to the race.

“The event’s history clearly demonstrates, on the one hand, the quality of the race organization and, on the other, the economic and tourist impact generated within the province by sporting events such as this. Since its beginnings, this stage race has been an excellent showcase for Castellón’s tourism sector, as well as serving to revitalize the activities of many businesses operating in the municipalities included on its route”, said the Chair.

Castellón Escenario Deportivo

This collaboration forms part of the Provincial Council’s support to sport as a catalyst for the provincial economy, which it carries out through the “Castellón Escenario Deportivo” project.

“The Volta Ciclista a Castelló once again demonstrates that our province is the best possible setting for the practice of cycling. We only have to take a look at our roads, both on the coast and in the interior, and especially on the weekends, to see that this is true.”

19 domestic and international under-23 teams will participate in this year’s edition of the race, which will be split over four stages: Benicàssim-Benicàssim, Onda-Alqueries, Grao de Castellón-Vistabella, and Castellón-Castellón.

Further information

For further information about Volta Ciclista a Castelló 2018:

Volta Ciclista a Castelló website

The Valencian province of Castellón is to host the 2018 Spanish Road Cycling Championships on 22nd, 23rd and 24th June.

Individual Time Trial

The first event of this year's championships will be the Individual Time Trial, to be held on Friday 22nd in the village of Vall d'Alba. The sub-23 and women's events, both to be held over 20km, will take place in the morning, while the men's event will be held over a 38km-course in the afternoon.

Sub-23 and Women's Road Race

On the following day, Saturday 23rd, the sub-23 and women's road races will be held between the towns of Oropesa del Mar, located on the Castellón coast, and Culla, located at an altitude of more than 1000 metres above sea level in the inland mountainous region of "El Maestrat". The sub-23 race will cover 3 laps of a final finishing ciruit and a total of 160km, whilst the women's race will cover 2 laps of the final circuit and cover a total of 120 km.

Men's Road Race

The final day of the championship's, Sunday 24th June, sees the men's road race, which starts in the city of Castellón de la Plana and covers some 210km, finishing in the coastal town of Benicàssim. The course takes in various climbs in the Serra d'Espadà range, located in the south of the province, and three climbs of El Desierto de Las Palmas, situated near to the finish.


For further information:

Royal Spanish Cycling Federation website (Spanish)

Royal Spanish Cycling Federation twitter (Spanish)

Province of Castellón (English)
Vall d'Alba (English)

Oropesa del Mar (English)

Culla (English)

Benicàssim (English)

Further information about the championships will be published via Twitter under the hastag #CECastellón18.