Blog

With professional cyclists competing in the 21 stage Tour of Spain, or Vuelta a Espana, the island of Ibiza was putting together final preparations for its own, smaller scale, event.

The eighth Vuelta Cicloturista a Ibiza was not a professional cycling event, more a tour of the island suited for experienced amateur riders looking for an organised social event. The distances of each stage were quite short and the expected average speed is designed to be a comfortable pace. There were even extra, optional stages to allow those who wanted to ride longer distances to get their fix, while others could take the opportunity to relax a little. The organisation was being taken care of by the San Antonio Cyclist Club and Ibizasport, a local leisure business.

Anyone wishing to ride the event had a choice of packages that included all kinds of rider support such as accompanying vehicles for mechanical support and a programme of social events for riders and guests. These included an awards ceremony, a Brazilian party and a final evening barbeque. The organisers could also arrange for accommodation and the provision of test bikes to try out during the event. The tour started on the 10th of October and continued for three days over a variety of four stages taking riders all over the south and north of Ibiza. The second day featured a choice of two different routes; one longer and faster than the other. On this day there was also a timed stretch to introduce a small competitive element. Each day the routes started and finished in San Antonio.

For cyclists looking to explore the island on two wheels, the tour represented the perfect opportunity to do exactly that, in the company of like-minded individuals and with the backup of mechanical support