Almería, a region to explore in 13 cycling stages

Over four days, the Škoda Titan Desert Almería takes in some of the geographical and cycling wonders of the province of Almería. Whether it’s Cabo de Gata, the Tabernas desert or the monumental Alto de Velefique, the area has endless opportunities for cycling enthusiasts.

Taking advantage of the sensational terrain of the area, its remarkable weather and the rise of tourism focused on sport, the Almeria Provincial Council, through its Costa de Almeria initiative, created a document called Almeria 1,000.

A cycling guide to the territory that contains a route of around 1,000 kilometres to get to know the entire Andalusian province in 13 stages.

Technically speaking, it would be correct to talk of 1,035 kilometres and just over 19,000 metres of accumulated positive height gain. All this in 13 days of pure road cycling and discovering a region full of contrasts.

A route that starts in a well-known place for Škoda Titan Desert Almeria fans: El Toyo. This town, close to the capital of Almeria itself, is the history of sport in the area. It hosted all the athletes of the Mediterranean Games organised by the Andalusian province in 2005.

From El Toyo, the first few days will take you along the Mediterranean coast, passing through charming villages such as Carboneras, Agua Amarga and San Juan de los Terreros.

From there, the route enters the majestic orography of Almería. The Sierra de las Estancias and the Sierra de Filabres mountains make their appearance, adding a touch of the sporting challenge that cycling enthusiasts are looking for.

Along the way, some names that will be familiar to the most keen cyclists. Towns such as Huércal – Overa or Roquetas de Mar know perfectly well what it means to host top-level cycling events, as both have recently been the finishing line of stages of La Vuelta.

And if we talk about the history of cycling in the territory, we must talk about those passes that are synonymous with cycling spectacle. The route includes climbs to the Alto de Velefique and Tetica de Bacares, two of the great giants of the Filabres mountain range.

However, the province has numerous identities and characteristics. It couldn’t be a tour of Almeria without including passes through Tabernas, which we know well from the Škoda Titan Desert Almeria. Europe’s only desert is also a protagonist of this route.

From that monument to the 70s and 80s cinema that is Tabernas, the cradle of Eurowestern and a world reference for the best studios in the world at the time, the route faces its final stages.

A loop route that ends, once again, in the starting town: El Toyo. A place that will have changed little in just 13 days, but the visitor who arrives after completing this route will certainly arrive different. Having discovered all the majesty that the province of Almería has to offer.