Road Cycling in Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands. It is the perfect winter cycling destination for road cyclists and is known for its volcanic landscape and year round sunny climate. Mt Teide is the main attraction and you will see it before you even step foot on the island. As you fly in, you will see Mt Teide, the volcano that dominates the island.
Known as the Island of Eternal Spring, Tenerife has long been a key training base for many professional cycling teams. Whilst the pros don't head out until the cycling off season, even in the height of summer, the temperature in Tenerife is not too hot to cycle. By the time autumn rolls around and it begins to get cold in the UK, the temperature in Tenerife rarely dips below twenty degrees, even into January and February.
Cycling on Tenerife is all about the epic climbing, particularly of Mt Teide. The Tenerife volcano offers almost 50km of unbroken climbing which is why so many professional teams, including the likes of Ineos Grenadiers and British Cycling have trained and honed their skills in Tenerife. The views too are mesmeric. The higher you ride, the more of Tenerife you will see. You can ride through the black mountains which offer a totally different perspective of Tenerife than the Colorada mountains. You will cycle through banana plantations whilst the views of La Gomera sitting in the crystal blue waters of the Atlantic make for a beautiful view as you climb Mount Teide. Then there are the stark cliffs of Masca and the road down to the Punta de Teno lighthouse which provide another completely different view of the island.
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Top Tips For Cycling in Tenerife
Cycling in Tenerife is so popular that we get asked such a number of questions about our Tenerife cycling holidays. From what to pack and what the best cycling routes in Tenerife are, to where to stay and when to travel, there is so much that we can tell you about cycling in Tenerife. Check out our vital nuggets of information with our top tips for cycling in Tenerife. Check these top tips for a Tenerife cycling holiday here.
The Best Routes & Rides
If you want to cycle in Tenerife, it's likely that you will want to cycle Mount Teide. Our cycling holidays in Tenerife are based in the south, from either Playa de las America, Los Cristianos or Costa Adeje. We think that is area the perfect base to climb Mount Teide as you can ride 3 ascents of Mt Teide, from either the south west, west, or south east. You can learn more about our the best Tenerife cycling routes and rides here.
Mount Teide Western Ascent
If you are looking to climb Mt Teide using the easiest route, we suggest climbing from Adeje. Adeje is on the west coast of the island and offers the least average gradient. You will begin the climb by heading upt through banana plantations into Guia de Isora. From there, you will head into the Black Mountains. As you cycle higher, La Gomera will appear in your rear view mirror. Stop at the Mirador de los Poleos for an incredible view of La Gomera on one side and Mt Teide on the other. This route is considered the easiest of all the routes up Mt Teide because the average gradient is 4.4%. You will be able to adjust to a rhythm which should be a little easier than other routes up Mt Teide. Read more about it here.
Mount Teide South Eastern Ascent
We think that the most beautiful cycling route up Mount Teide is from the south east. This Mt Teide cycling route starts in El Medano. You will ride up to Granadilla and then Vilaflor, typical Canarian towns with superb views. Both are very laid back towns and are good stops on this climb of Mount Teide. Further on, the climb from the towns into the crater are beautiful. You will ride on perfect tarmac shaded from the sun by large pine forests. Every so often, when there is a break in the tree line, you will get some beautiful views over the south west of Tenerife. Read more about it here.
Mount Teide South Western Ascent
The south western ascent takes you from the busy beaches of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas. You will leave these behind as you ride up Mt Teide. This route up Mt Teide also climbs through Arona and into Vilaflor, but on a slightly sifferent route. Vilaflor is the highest town in Tenerife and all of Spain. Make sure you have paced yourself well because the ascent from the coast to Vilaflor will see you ride close to 1,400m in just 20km. Read more about it here.
Masca Valley
If you have had enough of Mt Teide, there is the stunning Masca Valley to discover. Riding to Masca is an incredibly demanding day on the bike. It's remote and so wherever you ride to Masca from, you will have done some serious climbing. Once you reach Masca though, the journey will have been worth it. You will be rewarded with jaw dropping views of the Masca wall as well as huge and imposing cliff faces above you. The ride down from Masca to the Punta de Teno lighthouse is one of the highlights of this Tenerife cycle route. Read more about it here.
Check out a review of a Love Velo trip in Tenerife
