Holidays with no choices to make but when to get up from your sun lounger for your next mojito are great. There’s nothing more relaxing than topping up your tan and taking a couple of laps of the pool. Shopping and sightseeing, punctuated by a liquid lunch, is a great way to spend vacation time. Sometimes though, the slow pace of holiday life can get a little dull.
The little voice inside of you urging activity, exercise and challenge starts to get more vocal, and once loud enough, it’s almost impossible to ignore. For those who love to extend themselves, getting on two wheels and seeing the continent is the perfect mix of getaway and exertion. So, with this in mind, here are 5 of Europe’s best cycling trips, IDEAL for a high octane holiday.
Mountain Biking In Sierra Nevada, Spain
Though there’s no shortage of opportunities for a cycling holiday on the continent, the holy grail of Europe’s mountain-biking can be found in Southern Spain’s Sierra Nevada national park. Experience is strictly necessary, as terrains tend towards the gruelling and unpredictable, but don’t let that put you off; the weather is temperate all-year round and the scenery and views hugely rewarding.
All companies of repute offering tours here include a guide, brimming with knowledge of a variety of trails, from endurance and cross country to a more hair-raising downhill. Most tours also provide accommodation in and amongst Spain’s highest mountain range, making this an all-immersive experience. You can hire bikes too, so all you really need to bring is handling skills and some serious enthusiasm. Happy trailing and aim for that clean!
Waterway Cycle Paths In Belgium
Perhaps not the first place you’d think of for a European cycling holiday, but traversing the waterway-side cycle paths of Belgium on touring bikes is becoming increasing popular with cycling enthusiasts focusing on completing long distance over a more predictable terrain.
Journeys from major city to city are most common, taking in a few smaller towns each night by way of a pitstop is the best way to go. Ghent to Bruge is particularly scenic and is achievable in a day, rolling along on cruise control if that’s more your thing, while Zeebrugge to the beautiful Namur will take the best part of a leisurely week. Maybe not for the thrill seeking cyclist, but a majestic trip nonetheless.
The Challenging Climb Of La Marmotte, France
Probably the most revered amateur one-day cycling event around, La Marmotte is not for those with half their bum on the bike seat in terms of commitment. This is all or nothing stuff, with only 7000 places available and the online application process the source of much mirth and mystique. 174km of one of cycling’s most iconic climbs follows.
It’s vital to come prepared in terms of nutrition and energy release strategy to stave off any bonking, as well as getting your knowledge ship-shape regarding the fixing of inevitable mechanical issues. Your aero also needs to be on-point if you have designs on a well-placed finish. With so much to consider we’re fearful of putting you off, but if you’re lucky enough to get a place amongst the riders, make the most of it; this is a seriously celebrated experience in the cycling world.
City Cycling In Copenhagen, Denmark
All this talk of trails, climbs and endurance has got us tired. Cycling holidays needn’t all be about competition and taking your body to the limit. Europe has a host of cities where cycling is the only way to experience the ebb, flow and rhythm of the natives properly; consider a city break on two wheels if this sounds your sort of thing.
Copenhagen takes the biscuit for bike-friendly capitals, it seems like everyone is cycling, and unpretentious bikes are left outside shops, offices and bars unlocked and abundant. The effect is clean air and healthy, glowing looking people. Just lovely.
The TOUR Trans-Alp, Germany & Italy
After that breather, we’re back to the serious stuff, and if you’re after mountain biking to take your breath away, the TOUR Trans-Alp event is it. Although billed as a race, finishing is enough for most participants; it’s a gruelling, challenging course of 600 largely off-road kilometres and a 20’000 vertical climb. By anyone’s standards, that’s tough and make no mistake, but is arguably the most spectacular amateur cycling route in the world.
Those hard enough to take it on are rewarded with stunning, STUNNING (so good we typed it twice) views and the cleanest air you’re ever likely to breathe. If the struggle is enough to put most people off, here’s another caveat; you’ll need to find a companion as crazy as you to enter, as, for safety reasons, you have to pair up. Go on, we dare you.