Gran Fondo Pico de las Nieves 2026

The route

Gran Fondo Pico de las Nieves starts from Arucas, a village in the north of Gran Canaria at 250 m altitude. Two distances are available: 125 km and 59 km. The Pico de las Nieves at 1,949 m is the highest point on Gran Canaria and the target of the long route: climbing from the north coast to the summit through the island interior is one of the most distinctive cycling experiences in the Canary Islands. November marks the start of the Canarian high season for European cyclists seeking quality kilometres as the rest of Europe turns grey.

The route climbs from Arucas and gains altitude progressively towards the Gran Canaria summits, passing through the interior ravines, the mid-altitude pine zone, and the ridgeline sections near the summit. The landscape changes completely with altitude: from banana plantations and coastal green to eucalyptus and plantation pines, arriving at the final kilometres of the climb to the Pico de las Nieves, with its NATO radar installation at the top and views towards Teide on clear days. The descent from the summit is long and technical. The 59 km cuts the highest section and provides a more accessible version of the ride.

The NE trade wind (alisio) is the dominant wind on Gran Canaria and behaves very differently on each side of the island. The north side, where the route starts from Arucas, receives the alisio head-on: on exposed summit sections the NE wind can reach 20-35 km/h. The south side, drier and sunnier, is more sheltered. On the ridgeline sections near the Pico de las Nieves at close to 2,000 m, wind can be significant from any direction depending on the day's circulation. November on the Gran Canaria summit can be cold (5-10°C) and cloudy: the name of the peak is not coincidental. On the north coast, temperatures are 20-24°C. The difference between the start and the summit can be 15 degrees.

Arucas is 12 km from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, well connected via the GC-20. Gran Canaria has direct flights from across Europe to Las Palmas airport (LPA). In November the island is at the start of the cycling high season, with several professional teams already in training camps. The Canarian November climate, with its 20-24°C on the coast, is the main reason thousands of European cyclists make the trip.

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