Vuelta Cicloturista a Ibiza 2014 y 2015!


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Taking place last weekend across 3 days the Vuelta a Ibiza 2014 was a fantastic event with great weather, tough riding and superb organisation.  After experiencing first hand the event and riding all 3 stages there is no doubt Velo Club Ibiza will be offering accommodation and entry packages for the 2015 event, which takes place on the 5,6 and 7th of December 2015 so pencil it in the diary now!

This years special guest rider was the lovely David Lopez from Team Sky. Here he is with team VCI!

This years special guest rider was the lovely David Lopez from Team Sky. Here he is with team VCI!

The Vuelta Ibiza was held across 3 stages, the first and last being paced tours of the island with a chipped time trial section halfway through each stage, this is where you get to leave everything on the road as you try and get the best time between the 2 timing stations. The format works really well and offers that little bit more competition (for those that want it!) than the “Sportive” format so popular in the UK. The roads are totally closed by the Gurda Civil for the peloton to move through the island with no fear of traffic.

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Riders gather in San Antonio for the start of Day 1

Stage one was a 75k tour of the west coast beginning in San Antonio marina and finishing in Ibiza town the time trial section was 4k climb up into the Benimussa countryside coming in from the west coast.

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Riders head into Ibiza town at the end of Day 1

The 2nd stage incorporates the stand alone event the Cursa De S’Indoit (The race of the Turkey) the winner of which receives a live turkey as the prize.
900x300xcabecera_pavo_new.png.pagespeed.ic.QLqrB-LKmUFor those that want to compete the “competitivo” race is a flat out 42km dash out from Ibiza town up to Santa Eularia across to San Carlos then back down at breakneck speeds into Ibiza Town and the finish along the port front.  This years race broke all records pace wise and my Strava time is slightly off as my average was 43kph for the 42km. There are of course more sedate groups for all levels.IMG_5678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage 3 Picked up where stage 1 and 2 finished beginning in Ibiza town and hugging the east coast right up to Cala San Vicent where the 200 strong group headed along the north coast via the beautiful but painful 6km climb into San Joan which was to be todays time trial section after a food stop in San Joan the peloton then made for the finish in San Antonio via the numerous 3rand 4th category climbs out of Portinatx, San Miquel and Santa Agnes.

VC Ibiza provided the bikes for Team Project trusts Charity Ride on Day 3 of the Vuelta! Here are the team at the sign in

VC Ibiza provided the bikes for Team Project Trust’s 100k Charity Ride on Day 3

Day 3 - Riders climb out of Cala Mestalla on the east coast

Day 3 – Riders climb out of Cala Mestalla on the east coast

Heading toward the rather brutal ramps out of Benirras to Port De San Miquel

Heading toward the rather brutal ramps out of Benirras to Port De San Miquel

The event was rounded off with a rather fantastic BBQ and presentations for the numerous prize categories winners!

The BBQ at the finish on Day 3

The BBQ at the finish on Day 3

 

Ibiza resident and Master 40 Category 7th place Mr Leigh Adamson enjoys his recovery meal

Ibiza resident and Master 40 Category 7th place Mr Leigh Adamson enjoys his recovery meal

 

Congrats to all the category winners! Viva la Vuelta

Congrats to all the category winners! Viva la Vuelta

Full Results  of the event can be found on the Elitechip.net website here

 

 

 

Late season love…

September and October is truly a wonderful time on the Island as the clubs reach their climax and the rain pushes out the August humidity the late season sun then covers the island in a resplendent cloak of greens and golds… It truly is a great time to be riding a bike here!

Kirsten owns the descent!

Kirsten owns the descent!

The chaps from Gate Films in Manchester on their way to the Amnesia Closing party

The chaps from Gate Films in Manchester on their way to the Amnesia Closing party

Kirsten back at the ranch after a solid 120k, bien trabajo chica!

Kirsten back at the ranch after a solid 120k, bien trabajo chica!

Track sprinter Paul from Glasgow was loving the hills!

Track sprinter Paul from Glasgow was loving the hills!

Refreshments at Raco Verde, San Jose

Refreshments at Raco Verde, San Jose

Closing!

Party Party!

The rain came...

The rain came…

Paul and Ben in the awesome October sunlight

Paul and Ben in the awesome October sunlight

Jonathan behind Portinatx in an October stylee

Jonathan behind Portinatx in an October stylee

Dan takes full advantage of some late season sun!

Dan takes full advantage of some late season sun!

VC Ibiza – La Vuelta 2014

The Vuelta this year has proven to be the biggest and best Grand Tour of the year allowing us fans to finally see Contador and Froome go head to head without falling off. With this mouth watering prospect in mind we jumped on a plane to Asturias and on landing travelled down to the Picos De Europa..the most stunning range of mountains 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous Communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León.

Hooking up with some old pals from London we based ourselves in Cangas De Onis south west of Oviedo and then rode, ate, slept and watched some fantastic racing right up in our faces!

Ben, Chris and Lawrence between mountains

Ben, Chris and Lawrence between mountains

Lawrence coming to the end of a 15k descent

Lawrence coming to the end of a 15k descent

Chris in the mountains

Chris in the mountains

Fabada y Sidre

Fabada y Sidra

Birthday boy Lawrence and me up Covadonga the HC climb that was the dramatic ending to Stage 15

Birthday boy Lawrence and me up Covadonga the HC climb that was the dramatic ending to Stage 15

All gone a bit Rapha A/W look book here..

All gone a bit Rapha A/W look book here..

Above the Clouds at Lagos de Covadonga

Above the Clouds at Lagos de Covadonga

Top lad Christian Knees at the start of Stage 15

Top lad Christian Knees at the start of Stage 15

Local hero Dani Navarro give the home fans something to cheer

Local hero Dani Navarro gives the home fans something to cheer

Contador, Valverde and Purito. Alberto looking for Froome no doubt

Contador, Valverde and Purito. Alberto looking for Froome no doubt

The start of stage 15 in Oviedo

The start of stage 15 in Oviedo

Mikel Nieve and Sammy Sanchez where just off the lead riders up the climb

Mikel Nieve and Sammy Sanchez where just off the lead riders up the climb

Waiting for the "grupetto"

Waiting for the “grupetto”

 

Mad dogs, Englishmen and Tom from Miami go riding in late August!

A very hot and pretty exhausting August on our part saw VC Ibiza take some very dedicated and sun loving “Corredors” out onto the roads and camino’s of Ibiza.  Big love goes out to the Cobbolds, Daire’s 40th Crew and big Tom from Miami. Whom through the vomit, blood, bruises, sweat and gears all got in some fantastic riding accompanied by some splendid banter… Saludos mi Amigos

3 x Cobbold crew climbing out of Santa Agnes

3 x Cobbold crew climbing out of Santa Agnes

Fathers, sons, nephews and uncles. Good times.

Fathers, sons, nephews and uncles. Good times.

Percentage, shmercentage it just goes up

Percentage, shmercentage it just goes up

Mr H Cobbold getting aggressive!

Mr H Cobbold getting aggressive!

The Cobbold Classic.. Jeremy, Jonno and Humphrey completed their own 100 mile Round this island loop

The Cobbold Classic.. Jeremy, Jonno and Humphrey completed their own 100 mile Round this island loop

Brandon from Kensal Rise a Canadian QPR fan...good lad!

Brandon from Kensal Rise a Canadian QPR fan…good lad!

Daire's 40th crew...they all made it home..just!

Daire’s 40th crew…they all made it home..just!

Olly leads the Cobbold Salinas paceline!

Olly leads the Cobbold Salinas paceline!

Tom from Miami via NYC heads home after a super hot ride...

Tom from Miami via NYC heads home after a super hot ride…

Going downhill is fun for all!

Going downhill is fun for all!

 

Hadleigh MTB Club – Holiday Training

It’s always great to work with young upcoming riders and George from the London Olympic legacy cycling club Hadleigh was no exception.

A superb young rider, lets hope G has a big future ahead!

A superb young rider, lets hope G has a big future ahead!

We took on some of Ibiza’s most challenging climbs and George who had just turned 14 whilst here on holiday with his family rode like a local,  making short work of everything that was put in his way!

Reminiscent of a young Pantani as G climbs on the drops

Reminiscent of a young Pantani as G climbs on the drops

After 4 rides and over 4000 metres of climbing, we hope George is gonna hit peak form for his first race on his return to the UK. Good luck G!

I'm smiling so much because we've just finished!

I’m smiling so much because we’ve just finished!

 

1.Go to Ibiza 2.Ride with VC Ibiza 3. Become instantly awesome

Fully entrenched in the heat of the summer holiday season, VC Ibiza are currently experiencing heavy mileage riding with the numerous discerning cyclists who are hitting the islands beautiful roads and experiencing some riding they will never forget!

It’s been a wonderful summer so far and we can’t thank our clients enough. Here are some of the latest Velo Club Ibiza rouleurs!

Mr Iain Beresford from Aberdeen, enjoying the sunshine

Mr Iain Beresford from Aberdeen, enjoying the sunshine

The Welsh powerhouse Mr Jason Pearce climbs towards Port de San Miquel

The Welsh powerhouse Mr Jason Pearce climbs towards Port de San Miquel

Nikki and Chris do their best VC Ibiza 2015 catalogue pose!

Nikki and Chris do their best VC Ibiza 2015 catalogue pose!

DJ legend Tall Paul

DJ legend Tall Paul

Dee from Brighton was training for a 12 hour charity spin! Good luck ladies

Dee from Brighton was training for a 12 hour charity spin! Good luck ladies

Sandy headed back to London for Ride 100 fully race ready!

Sandy headed back to London for Ride 100 fully race ready!

Paul and Ed's last climb of the day!

Paul and Ed’s last climb of the day!

Hendrik was VCI's first customer, he was back again this year with his mate Mark and they lived the dream for 4 days!

Hendrik was VCI’s first customer, he was back again this year with his mate Mark and they lived the dream for 4 days!

Alex from Switzerland among the pines of Ibiza

Alex from Switzerland among the pines of Ibiza

Laurence in his VCI kit on the Col de Madone...and oh yeh Chris Froome

Laurence in his VCI kit on the Col de Madone…and oh yeh Chris Froome

We were flattered when after the ride Amit said "That was the best bike ride I have ever been on". Awww shucks!

We were flattered when after the ride Amit and Claire said “That was the best bike ride I have ever been on”. Awww shucks!

Mark, Faris and Neal top lads from Norn' Ireland and Dulwich via Palestine, Nepal and El Salvador!

Mark, Faris and Neal top lads from Norn’ Ireland and Dulwich via Palestine, Nepal and El Salvador!

and finally here is Roscoe eating yogurt

and finally here is Roscoe eating yogurt

The ladies who ride…

We had two lovely days riding with Vicki and here girlfriends from Essex and Fair play to the girls for whom some had never ridden any where near the distances we covered over the two days…so  If your ever in Leigh on Sea out in Essex… go check out Vicki’s wonderful cake stop!  http://www.stoptheworldcafe.com/

Some great weather, great company and great riding was had!

Some great weather, great company and great riding was had!

Day two and we are heading home with Ibiza Town in the background

Day two and we are heading home with Ibiza Town in the background