Andalucia Bike Race Preview

As a fan of riding from from A to B and seeing the sights inbetween, doing multi day rides appeals, but the trouble is that I do have a competitive streak in me. I have done a number of stage races now as they appeal to my sense of adventure and desire to ride hard. In a week I’ll will be lining up with 399 other riders, some pro/elites, some amateur for the 2nd Andalucia Bike Race in Southern Spain.

MTB endurance racing has been a popular choice for riders over the past 10 years, giving riders the chance to pit themselves against both the distance and various elite riders. 12 and 24 hour events are an ever popular choice in the UK, yet not so much across the water. What is taking off globally is the stage race, a multi-day event challenging rider and bike against the distance and the terrain whilst set against some stunning backdrops. Some are ‘short’ 3-4 day events, most are 6-7 days, and some are as long as 10 days. They can cover anything from 250km to over a 1000km in that time with cumulative height gains equivalent to riding up Everest a few times!

Andalucia Bike Race 2012

The original concept was a trans-event, starting and finishing in a new host town each day, but some have evolved to moving onto only 2 or 3 host towns over the 7 days, with out and back routes from each town. This can give greater scope for trail rising as opposed to having to use road and fireroads to connect host towns. We have lost the UK’s only full-length, multi-day event, the Transwales, which has morphed into the Trailmasters. It is now a 3-day stage event offering a similar format as previously, but now with 2-3 special stages each day instead of the one.

Globally however, multi-day stage races are increasing in their popularity, with new ones popping up in the past few years, quickly becoming must do events. Some of the more well known ones have been going for over 10 years, such as the Transalp starting in Germany, the Transrockies in Canada, and Ironbike in Italy. They do require much more in terms of commitment physically, time and financially, but there is no experience quite like them. The detail is in the physical challenge, in tales of the day’s riding around the dining table, in making new friends and discovering trails in new parts of the world.

A newcomer to the stage is the Andalucia Bike Race (ABR), a 6-day stage race in teams of 2, now into its second year. Spain does have a number of 2-3 day races on the calender, but given the expanse of trail networks out there, the country was always ripe for a full stage event. It is set in the area of Andalucia (hence the name) starting in the town of Cordoba, a couple of hours from Malaga and Seville. With temperatures fast becoming warm (by British standards) in the area by the start date of the 26th February, it is a good chance to test the legs and escape the still chilly climes of our shores. This is the mountains however, and the weather can turn as it did last year with snow on the final day! Preparation is key, as it is with any race or long ride. The riding here is quite stunning, either along the coastline or further inland, catering for even to the most hardy climbers and enduro riders alike. If you get a chance, it is worth staying around after the race to experience a bit more of the area.

Andalucia Bike Race 2012

From relative small beginnings last year, the ABR has grown from an entry field of 200 riders from 15 countries to over 400 from 20 different countries. The race has also received UCI ranking as an xcs S2 race, so caters for the pro/elite racer wishing to pick up points in the early season. Given that it is Olympic year, points are all to play for! The race does attract a number of elite riders looking for early season races. World cross country champion Jose Hermida will be back for this second edition. This year’s race has also attracted a number of top riders from the UK, Sally Bigham of the Topeak Ergon team, Rich Rothwell, his partner Anthony White, Matt Page and Josh Ibbett. Watch out for them as they’ve been known to give the Euros a run for their money.

The race makes for challenging reading on paper with over 400km of trail riding with over 12,000m of vertical ascent over the 6 days. Distances vary from 65 to 90km a day with a hearty 2900m of climbing on the longest stage. It starts with a semi urban 34km prologue in and around the town of Cordoba, a chance to ready the legs for the next 5 days of racing and to suss out the competition.The first 3 stages start and finish in Cordoba, then it’s onto La Carolina where the stage will finish followed by a transfer to Jaen for the final 3 stages. There may be plenty of going up, but whatever goes up has to come back down. The terrain does look spectacular from the previous year’s photos and I’m sure that this year’s edition won’t disappoint.

Andalucia Bike Race 2012

All participants get a welcome pack too, consisting of essential chamoix cream (not to be omitted when stage racing), energy products from Powerbar, an official race jersey and chain oil. Also on hand is a free neutral tech service during the event and a free massage post race. Massage is highly recommended over the course of a stage race. You may not feel like it on day 1, but by day 3, the legs will be screaming out for it! Breakfast and dinner are provided each day in the official race hotel. It is quite expensive at €350 per rider in a twin room for the length of he race, but everything you need post race is there for you and it will be more fun to stay in race central with other riders. A good chance to share a beer or 2 with the pros/elites.

I hope to bring you a couple of reports throughout the week, depending if I can get myself up from the knackered heap I will be in each day to actually write something! I’m looking forward to some riding in the sunshine and meeting some familiar and new faces!