As we mentioned in a previous article, Spain is a country with a climate that is highly favourable to outdoor activities.
With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, it offers excellent conditions for long cycling outings.
Over the years, the country has developed extensively around this activity and numerous cycle paths have been laid out, from north to south and from east to west.
With 52 biosphere reserves and 15 national parks, Spain is brimming with natural landscapes that will keep surprising you throughout your journey. Its charming little villages will offer you a well-deserved rest, sometimes even free of charge and/or adapted for touring cyclists.
All set for a sporty getaway!
The Greenways
These 3,200 kilometres of former railway lines, converted into cycle touring and trekking routes, are located all over the country. There are more than 120 different ones and the distances to cover can vary from 1 to 200 kilometres.
They are completely off-limits to motorised vehicles, which guarantees a high level of safety. What's more, they are easy to access and designed so that people with reduced mobility can enjoy them too.
“Vía Verde” (meaning “Greenway”) is a trademark registered by the Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (FFE), which guarantees that the route has been laid out on a former railway line.
In addition to converting the railways, around a hundred former stations have been rehabilitated into accommodation, restaurants, bike rentals and so on.
Everything is designed to make discovering these routes as enjoyable as possible.
If you are looking for the Greenways, they are identified by the same logo, in the shape of a green leaf, throughout Spain.
It is nonetheless advisable to find out about the route you have in mind before setting off. All the information, such as detailed maps, the types of surface or the accommodation and restaurants, is available on the FFE website.
The Tour of Spain
If you are a keen cycling enthusiast, you have surely already heard of “la Vuelta”!
The little sister of the Tour de France, it is a race that is likewise full of challenges. Fortunately, the scenery is breathtaking and you are not in a race!
So take the time to admire your surroundings, in order to get to know different regions of Spain.
For the fittest, 7 mountain stages are included in the route. But, of course, it is entirely possible and recommended to do only part of the race, which runs to more than 3,000 kilometres.
The Silver Route
Cover more than 1,000 kilometres by bike to reach Santiago de Compostela from Seville!
The “Via de la Plata” is one of the many pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago. It dates back to the Roman Empire and was a road running from Seville to Astorga.
Along the way you will come across lush green landscapes as well as medieval villages, each one more beautiful than the last.
The nature trails
Since 1993, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has built more than 10,300 kilometres of nature trails throughout Spain.
These former transport routes (canals, railway lines, drovers' roads or even footpaths) are reserved for cycling, horses and walkers in order to bring them closer to nature. They have been rehabilitated so that nature-related activities can be carried out there without any risk of accidents with motorised vehicles.
Maps with GPS coordinates are downloadable so you can locate these various trails.
Whichever route you wish to take, respect the country's rules for cycling. You should know, for example, that wearing reflective clothing is compulsory at night and in tunnels, and that you must have front and rear lights visible from 50 metres.
It is always advisable to check with the local associations or federations before undertaking a trip. As regulations and traffic conditions change, it is best to stay informed.
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