Gran Fondo Alé Cycling Gandía 2026

The route

The Gran Fondo Alé Cycling Gandía reaches its tenth edition on 18 April, which already tells you something: events that make it to ten editions do so because riders keep coming back and because the organisation has refined the details over time. It starts in Gandía on the Valencia coast with a 132 km route that balances mid-mountain climbs inland with faster sections near the sea. La Safor and the Vall d'Albaida are the main territories covered, two southern Valencian comarcas with well-surfaced roads, light traffic, and a profile that lets you ride at a solid pace without turning the day into a survival exercise.

The 132 km route earns its reputation through the inland climbs, with ascents reaching 500-700 m of altitude and gradients of 5-9% on the steeper sections. No individual climb is a monster, but strung together in the second half of the route they accumulate elevation steadily. The faster sections are the approaches back toward the coast, where the road flattens and group speed can be high. The landscape moves from orange and almond trees in the lower valleys to pine forest at altitude, and the viewpoints offer Mediterranean views that feel unexpected at 600 m. The final descent toward Gandía with the sea in the distance is the kind of moment that rewards a tired set of legs.

April in Valencia looks straightforward on paper but has its complications. Temperatures are pleasant at 15-22°C and rain is unlikely. Wind is what shapes the day. In the mornings, the E/SE sea breeze arrives from the Mediterranean, giving 10-20 km/h on the coastal sections. As the morning progresses and the sun heats the interior, thermal wind begins rising up the valleys: on eastward-facing climbs, this wind can be either in your face or helping you, depending on the exact time of day. North-south oriented valleys channel the flow and can produce 15-20 km/h of sustained crosswind. Ridge sections above 500 m are the most exposed, with crosswinds that can reach 25 km/h without warning. On the return toward the coast, the Levante breeze can put 15-20 km/h in your face for the final 20-30 km, which is precisely when you least want to deal with it.

Registration is at ccescapada.com/ale-cycling-gandia. Gandía has solid accommodation options built around beach tourism, which means decent rooms at reasonable prices in April before peak season. For preparation, the route does not demand exceptional fitness, but a solid base helps: arriving with 3,000-4,000 km in your legs since the start of the year is enough to enjoy it rather than survive it. The 132 km with around 1,800-2,000 m of elevation gain is manageable with a reasonable foundation. Pack a short-sleeve jersey but keep a light windproof in your pocket: April mornings on the Valencia coast can be deceptive, and the wind on the ridges chills more than you expect.

Variants and GPX

Past editions

Real Open-Meteo weather on each edition day.

How to register

Registration, price and rules are on the official website of the organization. Official march website →

More information

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Keep reading about planning routes with wind