polkadotcycling
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- French Alps & Tenerife
JANUARY - climb of the month - mount teide plateau - tenerife
Tenerife, the only place in Europe where you can continously climb from sea level to over 2000m in one go, all year round! Away from the 'raving' holiday resorts, this Canary island has many beautiful and varied climbs and it's definitely not all barren volcanic rock, unlike some of it's neighbours.
Mount Teide dominants the island rising to 3718m, making it the highest mountain in Spain. The peak sits within a huge collapsed crater, called Las Canadas, which has formed a large plateau area at the top and is home to the Paradores hotel, the only hotel at the top.
Climb Stats:
There are five main routes up to the Teide plateau, two from the South side and one each from the North, West and East. Each climb is unique in it's scenery and vegetation. In fact there are seven different vegetation zones in Tenerife, even including a small rainforest in the Anaga mountain range in the North Eastern tip of the island. We are going to focus one of the climbs in the South from El Medano, through Granadilla and Vilaflor to the plateau. Most of the pictures of Bradley Wiggins training, in the recent documentaries and in the Guardian and Telegraph are on the sections from Granadilla to the top.
Strava: to view the full route on Strava when Jen rode the route with the Cycling Weekly Photoshoot team, whilst we were hosting them, go to: http://app.strava.com/activities/31364537
The route from El Medano is one of the direct routes. It is very similar to a long Alpine climb and if you were to liken it to any climb in the French Alps then probably the Col d'Iseran from Bourg St Muarice would be the closest. El Medano, an old fishing village, is now a lower key holiday resort with some nice cafes and a good beach, so a great starting point for the ride. You can even dip your toe in the water at the small port area before heading off if you wish?
Out of El Medano the route takes you straight up to San Isidro. The first 3km are fairly steady with gradients of 4-5%. The road can be quite busy here at times as it is the main route up to the motorway that runs around the coast, but motorists on this island are very 'cyclist aware' and incredibly courteuous so you shouldn't have any problems. There is a steeper ramp to get over the motorway, then you are heading into San Isidro and things will quieten down from here. The next 6km section from San Isidro to Granadilla is a bit steeper with some regular sections of 7-8%. Here you will start to see a plethrora of cacti, prickly pears and other plants and trees akin to drier conditions. You will also get regular views of the cone of Mount Teide along this section.
Definitely worth the trip for the amazing scenery and great coffee at the hotel cafe! From the crater rim, there is a 4km descent into the crater, where the scenery dramatically changes with old lava flow fields that look like large clods of earth but are solid rock, green tinged sand from the sulphur laid down in the rocks and unusal rock formations, let alone Mount Teide rising a further 1600m above! It's quite a sight. After the descent follow the road round to the right, it then starts to climb and bears round to the left. The hotel is on the right about 2km after you start climbing again. You will see a chapel on the roadside just at the junction. Due to the number of visitors, walkers and cyclists to this area, the hotel has a separate cafe where you can sit out in the sun and take in the view before your return.
Mount Teide dominants the island rising to 3718m, making it the highest mountain in Spain. The peak sits within a huge collapsed crater, called Las Canadas, which has formed a large plateau area at the top and is home to the Paradores hotel, the only hotel at the top.
Climb Stats:
- Length: 36.8km
- Summit: 2100m
- Total height gain from El Medano: 2100m
- Max gradient: 11%
- Average gradient from El Medano: 5.8%
- Quick time = 2 - 2 1/2 hours
- Steady Pace = 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours
- Lesiurely ride = 3 1/2 - 5 hours
There are five main routes up to the Teide plateau, two from the South side and one each from the North, West and East. Each climb is unique in it's scenery and vegetation. In fact there are seven different vegetation zones in Tenerife, even including a small rainforest in the Anaga mountain range in the North Eastern tip of the island. We are going to focus one of the climbs in the South from El Medano, through Granadilla and Vilaflor to the plateau. Most of the pictures of Bradley Wiggins training, in the recent documentaries and in the Guardian and Telegraph are on the sections from Granadilla to the top.
The route from El Medano is one of the direct routes. It is very similar to a long Alpine climb and if you were to liken it to any climb in the French Alps then probably the Col d'Iseran from Bourg St Muarice would be the closest. El Medano, an old fishing village, is now a lower key holiday resort with some nice cafes and a good beach, so a great starting point for the ride. You can even dip your toe in the water at the small port area before heading off if you wish?
Granadilla is roughly a third of the way up the climb and from here to Vilaflor the climb is steadier. As you leave the village, the road becomes lined with eucalyptus trees. The first 2km sit around 6-7%, then as the road narrows a bit it settles down to 4-5% for most of the way to Vilaflor. It's a very twisty road here tracking round the many barrancos (spanish for ravine) and rocky outcrops. You'll regularly see small caves in the rock face, that in certain parts of the island have doors on them and are used as stores. This section is quite technical on the descent.
7km from Vilaflor, the cacti and prickly pears give way to open pine forest, which continues to the crater rim at 2100m.Vilaflor is the last village before the top and unless you are going onto the Paradores hotel, there isn't anything at the high point so it's worth making sure you have enough fluid for the next 13km. There is a cafe on the left as you come into the village, just before the petrol station, that is very popular with cyclists, where you can stop for a coffee or stock up.
Out of the village, the first 4km are tougher, with a 10% section just before the first view point, with views right down to the coast. the climb then becomes wide sweeping bends with a fairly consistent gradient of 6-7% to the top.Just before the top, you will notice that some of the pine trunks are charred. This is from a forest fire here last summer and if you are carrying onto the Paradores you will then descend down through the main area that got burn't (only 4km). It now has a landscape that looks something like 'The Lord of the Rings', although the pine trees are already starting to recover.
Similar to France and other places in Europe, the high point here is marked with a sign saying El Retamar 2100m, so you'll know you have made it!
Want to visit the Paradores hotel?Definitely worth the trip for the amazing scenery and great coffee at the hotel cafe! From the crater rim, there is a 4km descent into the crater, where the scenery dramatically changes with old lava flow fields that look like large clods of earth but are solid rock, green tinged sand from the sulphur laid down in the rocks and unusal rock formations, let alone Mount Teide rising a further 1600m above! It's quite a sight. After the descent follow the road round to the right, it then starts to climb and bears round to the left. The hotel is on the right about 2km after you start climbing again. You will see a chapel on the roadside just at the junction. Due to the number of visitors, walkers and cyclists to this area, the hotel has a separate cafe where you can sit out in the sun and take in the view before your return.
