A concentrated morning of climbing on the ascent local professionals use to test themselves, with 1,180 m gained in 62 km.
from €95 per rider
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Madrid big climb morning — hard half day, 62 km is a hard half day tour in Madrid, taking in Madrid.
Places on the way: Madrid
This is the hard, performance-minded morning on the Ride Madrid list: 62 km with 1,180 m of climbing, built around the ascent that local professionals use to test themselves. Rather than spreading the effort over a full day, the ride puts the work into one sustained climb and then lets you finish while the day is still cool.
The route starts and ends in Madrid. The numbers tell you how it is shaped: 1,180 m over 62 km averages about 19 m of ascent per kilometre, so the ride is not hilly throughout. Most of the effort sits in the long climb, and the rest is rolling or easier riding to link it together.
Compared with the other tours here, it is far shorter than the Costa Brava coast road ride or the Pyrenees camp, and much more intense than the gravel days. It suits riders who want a hard, honest effort and a measurable result, not sightseeing or a relaxed pace.
This is a ride for people who already train. You should be comfortable riding 60 km at a steady pace and holding a sustained effort uphill for a long time, not just on short ramps. Previous experience of long climbs helps more than raw speed, because pacing decides how the morning goes.
It is a poor fit for first-time riders, families or anyone hoping for a gentle introduction. If you are building up, the Madrid riverside gravel intro or the greenway easy day are better starting points.
The distance and climbing figures show the structure. With 1,180 m gained in 62 km, the ride is built around one major ascent, with the remaining kilometres used to reach it and return to Madrid. Expect a warm-up section, then the climb itself, where most of the 1,180 m is earned, followed by the descent and the ride back.
Because the effort is concentrated, you can pace the climb against your own limits. Ask the partner when booking for the exact road, the gradient profile and where the group regroups.
Madrid gets hot on summer afternoons, and a long climb in that heat is a different challenge. A half-day format lets the hard work happen in cooler morning air, and you are done before the afternoon heat builds. That is the main idea behind the tour, and it is also why it works for riders with a busy day ahead.
In summer, bring two bottles and sun protection. In spring and autumn, carry a light layer for the descent, when you cool quickly after a hard effort.
Madrid volcano gravel day (88 km) is also demanding, but it is a full day on gravel with a scenic emphasis. This tour is road-focused, shorter and more intense, with one big effort at its centre.
Madrid forest gravel loop (72 km) is a long, balanced day for riders stepping up. The Pyrenees three-day cycling camp offers bigger passes with van support, but you have to travel for it. If you want the strongest test of climbing without leaving Madrid or giving up a full day, this is the one to choose.
It is rated hard. You ride 62 km and climb 1,180 m, most of it on one long ascent, so you need good fitness and some experience of sustained climbing.
No. Beginners would do better on the Madrid riverside gravel intro or the greenway easy day, then build up to a climb like this.
It is a half-day tour, finishing before the afternoon heat. Check the exact start time and total duration with the partner when booking.
The 1,180 m of ascent is concentrated into one main climb, which makes it more intense than the gravel days, though the Pyrenees camp has bigger passes over several days.
Gravel
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Gravel
A demanding gravel day on tracks between extinct volcanoes and beech forest, with 1,600 m of climbing over 88 km.
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