Riding Alicante: Heat, Mountains, and Desert Roads
Alicante in Spain is renowned the world over, as a holiday hotspot. However, are you aware how great the road cycling is in this majestic Spanish resort? It’s nestled amongst coastal mountains, with exceptional roads; which is why I took myself on a cycling trip, recently.
Yes, Alicante is full of surprises. Everyone knows the beaches; but few expect the wild, open mountains just a short ride inland. Here, the land feels more like Texas or the rising hills of Africa than Spain — dry terraces, rocky peaks, and a sky that seems endless.
As an easily excited cycling tourist, on my new TIME Scylon 2025 with Vision 60 mm wheels, I set out to test it and to explore the climbs of Tiger Pass, Puerto de Tudons, Puerto del Collao, and Puerto de Benifallim. It turned into one of the most beautiful and most unforgettable rides I’ve ever done – which is why I want to share it with you all.
Let’s go, and ride into the Alicante hills together and explore this beautiful corner of Spain, by bike. It’s TIME to ride!
Route Information
Stats 66.59 km 1,488 metres
• Start/Finish: The ride started from Alcoy heading towards the Puerto de Tudons
• Difficulty: Challenging
Road Surface: Excellent tarmac
Refreshments & Where to Stay
Lots of places along the way
Character
A long but rewarding route, with climbs and mountain views views, and the sun high in the sky. Road surface conditions are superb.
The route combines inland climbs, fast descents, scenic towns, anddeserted roads, too. THe sun beats down at time, so wear sun screen and take on board lots of fluids. Whether you’re chasing fitness, a photo-worthy adventure, or pure road cycling pleasure, this ride offers it all.
Route
The ride started from Alcoy heading towards the Puerto de Tudons. Around 8 km with 4% average and at a 7-9% maximum steepness, it’s steady but brutal in the heat. My bottles turned warm within minutes, and every patch of shade felt like a gift.
The Scylon was in its element here, light and responsive, pushing me to hold a rhythm even when the heat tried to break me.
Tiger Pass – Safari Aitana
After that, I rode through Tiger Pass, near Safari Aitana. The landscape was raw and exposed, scrubland stretching out like a cycling safari. The road twisted upwards under a blazing sun, the kind that makes the tarmac shimmer like a mirage. It felt wild, different, and slightly surreal — not Europe as most people imagine it.
Puerto del Collao (890 m)
Shorter but nastier. The Collao throws in ramps of 13–16%, hitting like walls. The road rises in jagged steps, with some downhill sections to relax. From the summit the views open wide — terraced valleys with olive trees and jagged limestone ridges, stretching far into the haze.
Puerto de Benifallim (1,020 m)
The final challenge was Puerto de Benifallim. A short, steadier climb that winds through pine forest before breaking into rocky open ground above 1,000 m. The altitude brought a whisper of cooler air, but the sun still pressed hard.
Useful Information
Surviving the Heat
At 40°C, the fountains in the village squares became salvation. I didn’t just fill my bottles — I soaked myself completely, jersey, shorts, head, everything. It was the only way to keep going. Each time I left a fountain dripping, the cool water evaporating instantly in the dry air, it felt like a reset button for the next climb.
Descents Like a Bullet
The reward for every climb was the descent. Long, sweeping, and fast, cutting through barren landscapes with nothing but the wind in my ears. The Vision 60 mm wheels hummed steadily, and the Scylon felt like a bullet, holding its line with confidence even as the road twisted beneath me.
Why Alicante Feels Epic
What makes Alicante special is the contrast. In one ride you pass through desert scrub, thick pine forests, rocky ridgelines, and timeless stone villages. It feels like riding through a Western movie set — only your bike is the horse carrying you across the landscape.
It’s not the Alps or the Pyrenees. It’s harsher, hotter, and maybe even more rewarding. Alicante is a place where survival, speed, and scenery collide, and it leaves you with memories that burn long after the ride is done. It’s a place that should be on all cyclist’s bucket list, as you explore the variety and exceptional terrain that Spain has to offer for cycling.
