POLKA DOT CYCLING Tenerife & La Gomera RAID 2020 The Spring Randonnée or Training Week
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POLKA DOT CYCLING Telephone: +44 (0)1869 278 130
www.polkadotcycling.com
Tenerife & La Gomera RAID 2020
The Spring Randonnée or Training Week
TOUR OVERVIEW
Following the success of the RAID Tenerife trip, have now decided
to change the route for 2020 and include the beautiful island of La
Gomera to this challenge. The route takes all the way around both
islands in 6 days, focusing on the climbs in the North of Tenerife,
over 4 days, including a stay at the famous Paradores hotel in the
crater, before hopping on the ferry to La Gomera for 2 days riding.
This trip could be a great cycling holiday in the warm or it could also
be used as a late March training week with lots of great climbing.
It’s another significant challenge with 16,500m of climbing over 6
days, with 600km.
Tenerife is a very mountainous island, with the snow-capped
Mount Teide rising to 3718m overlooking the whole island,
although the roads go to 2330m. The island has seven different
vegetation zones, with two additional separate small mountain
ranges and even a small rainforest! This makes the scenery very
varied and constantly changing. La Gomera is a very verdant island
with a large rainforest sitting at the top in the Garonjay National
Park. Impressive gorges and stunning views out to sea and a
fantastic view back over to Teide. La Gomera is a very unspoilt
island, with quiet, well surfaced roads and amazing climbs.
A spectacular route made all the special by the addition of La
Gomera.
• Total Distance: 600km
• Total Climbing: 16,000m (averages 2660m/day)
Main Climbs: - Arafo, Anaga, Teide Spine, Icod & Santiago, Masca
from Buenavista, Garonjay, Vallehermoso, Tecina, Hermigua
corner
Dates: 21st March to 28th March 2020
Pricing Starts from: £1880
Pick Up: Tenerife South Airport
Drop Off: Tenerife South Airport
Nights Stay: 7
Days Riding: 6
Bike Hire: £210 Standard Bike, £240 E-Bike
Contact: bookings@polkadotcycling.com
POLKA DOT CYCLING Telephone: +44 (0)1869 278 130
www.polkadotcycling.com
Tenerife & La Gomera RAID 2020
The Spring Randonnée or Training Week
HIGHLIGHTS
• Only 12 spaces available.
• 4 or 5 star accommodation, half-board & wine.
• One night at the famous Paradores Hotel
• Ride the spectacular routes of Tenerife and La Gomera;
incuding Anaga, Masca and the Garonjay National Park
• A brilliant opportunity to get in some late spring training
to use as a leg up for the summer challenges.
• Complete a brand new RAID in its third year.
• On-road personal coaching and advice.
• The “Pro” experience includes the best in the business
on road support, with a 1:6 guide to rider ratio.
• Our professional service takes care of everything from
baggage transfer to dietary requirements and bike
mechanics to physical preparation for the day ahead.
Day 1 Arrival Day
Today will be when you fly in to Tenerife to begin your challenge. You
will be greeted at the airport by one of our friendly guides to make
sure you have everything you need and also to hand you over to the
driver who will be taking you to the start hotel based in San Blas.
To give yourself enough time to get settled in and ready for the
following day, our first day of riding, please arrange flights that arrive
by 17.30 at the latest. We will also have guides available in the hotel
if you require assistance to build your bike or would like any tips or
recommendations.
There is no scheduled riding today but we can give you advice if you
would like to stretch your legs before we begin tomorrow.
POLKA DOT CYCLING Telephone: +44 (0)1869 278 130
www.polkadotcycling.com
Tenerife & La Gomera RAID 2020
The Spring Randonnée or Training Week
Day 2 Chayofa – La Laguna
Today we start by winding our way along the beautiful old road to
Santa Cruz, rolling in and out of Barrancos; it’s a very twisty road with
lots of short climbs all the way to Güímar, famous for its Pyramid!
We then climb up to the spine of the mountains through pine forests,
with views over to Gran Canaria. Once at the spine, we then descend
down to the old cobbled streets of the 15th century town of La Laguna,
the old capital of the island, with it’s cobbled streets and impressive
bell tower.
Distance – 119 km
Climbing – 2870 m
Main Climbs – Arafo
Day 3 La Laguna - Teide
We start by descending down to the East side of Santa Cruz and
tracking along to St Andres, the site of a 2km golden sand beach (all
imported from the Sahara!), before turning inland to climb up to the
Anaga mountain range, to the rainforest at the top.
The scenery really changes here and after the brief humidity of the
rainforest, we then start to see a very green lush landscape as we ride
back towards La Laguna.
After Lunch we then head all the way up the spine to Teide and a night
at the famous Paradores hotel. It’s quite a climb, 50km in length but
very steady with a few downhill sections for a break. The views switch
from the North to the South side of the island continually as you climb
and there is an impressive first view of teide from this approach.
Distance – 113 km
Climbing – 3530 m
Main Climb – Anaga, Teide
POLKA DOT CYCLING Telephone: +44 (0)1869 278 130
www.polkadotcycling.com
Tenerife & La Gomera RAID 2020
The Spring Randonnée or Training Week
Day 4 Teide - Buenavista
Today is a slightly easier day. We start with a descent down to
Orotava and then we wind our way up and down along to Icod de Los
Vinos the site of a 3000 year old tree!
From here we climb up towards Santiago del Teide on a steady climb
with views right out to the Atlantic Ocean North of us. We then head
back down to the quiet resort of Buenavista in the North West of the
island.
There is also the option to ride out to the Lighthouse at the most
north westerly point if there is time.
Distance – 110 km
Climbing – 1940 m
Main Climbs – Santiago del Teide from the North
Day 5 Buenavista – San Sebastian
de
We start by climbing straight out of Buenavista towards Masca. The
first 15km are nice and steady and then we drop into the Masca
valley. Here it is very rugged and steep sided with incredible scenery
likened to Machu Picchu in Peru!
After a couple of short 2km steeper ascents to coffee, we take on the
4km from Masca back over to the South of the island. It’s a tough
climb with regular sections over 10% so you’ll need that bottom
sprocket but the views from the view point above looking back down
to Masca are breath taking.
Once back in the South, we head to the ferry in Los Cristianos to take
us over to La Gomera around 7pm. It’s just a 45min crossing and then
we have short 1km climb out of the port to the hotel sitting on the
rocks above San Sebastian, the capital of La Gomera.
Distance – 75 km
Climbing – 1980 m
Main Climbs – Masca from the North
POLKA DOT CYCLING Telephone: +44 (0)1869 278 130
www.polkadotcycling.com
Tenerife & La Gomera RAID 2020
The Spring Randonnée or Training Week
Day 6 San Sebastian - Tecina
For our first day in La Gomera, we head straight into the Garonjay
National Park with it’s infamous large rock and then into the
Rainforest. The first climb is a 24km climb, climbing 1400m so
although not as high as Tenerife the climbs certainly are not to be
sniffed at. As you climb you will start to see the deep Barrancos
flowing away from you to the coast and experience the ruggedness
of this unspoilt island. The scenery is similar to Masca everywhere
you look.
We then do a loop around the Park descending to Vallehermoso, a
short hop over and down to Agulo on the coast before heading back
and back up tand over and down to Tecina and the lovely bay of
Santiago.
Distance – 98 km
Climbing – 3320 m
Main Climbs – Vallehermoso, Argulo, Hermigua
Day 7 Tecina - Chayofa
Our final day won’t disappoint. It’s back up to the National Park but
taking a very windy different route to the South West. The view just
keep on coming. We then cut across the Park this time before
returning to San Sebastian to get the ferry back to Los Cristianos
around 17.30.
One back in Tenerife we have a short 4km climb back to our hotel we
used on the first night to complete the two complete circles of two
islands in one week!
Distance – 80 km
Climbing – 2460 m
Main Climbs – Igualero, Termacado, Hermigua
Day 8 Departure Day
With lots of fond memories of your RAID Tenerife challenge we
transfer you back to Tenerife South airport for your return journey
home.
POLKA DOT CYCLING Telephone: +44 (0)1869 278 130
www.polkadotcycling.com
Tenerife & La Gomera RAID 2020
The Spring Randonnée or Training Week
AM I FIT ENOUGH? INSURANCE
Tenerife really has no flat roads; this is why the pro riders Travel and Medical insurance is not included, but is a
come here to train. Therefore, every day you will be condition of our booking terms and conditions. We want
constantly climbing or descending, you will require a to make sure that no one has any issues that will cause
reasonable level of fitness before you come to handle 6 them long term problems. And whilst we take every
consecutive days of riding on this terrain. If you have any effort to make sure everyone is well taken care of,
concerns regarding your health please contact your sometimes accidents do happen.
physician, if you wish to talk to us about this issue please
call. We are partnered with an Insurance Group called Dog
Tag, that we recommend for their level of care and
If you are struggling to handle the riding here we will insurance. They have graciously offered a discount of 5%
encourage you to make use of the minibus, that is what it for Polka Dot customers, so follow the link on this
is for. We reserve the right to make alterations to the document to get your code. And you should also follow
route if we have concerns regarding your health, safety this link to find the insurance package they offer.
and fatigue levels. During the week we are intending for
you to build some form, not go home in a heap! FINANCIAL PROTECTION
We take your financial protection very seriously. In
NAVIGATION accordance with "The Package Travel, Package Tours
Due to our insistence that our guides cycle on the road Regulations 1992" all passengers booking with Polka Dot
with our customers, offer support and advice, they are Cycling Ltd are fully insured for the initial deposit and
also able to help you navigate the routes. This means subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us,
minimal effort on your part to stay on track. including repatriation if required, arising from the
cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements
We also make sure to provide the routes on due to the insolvency of Polka Dot Cycling Ltd.
downloadable Garmin files and we also have daily
handouts with route profiles, maps and directions to help We have full insurance for this arranged by Towergate
you, just in case. This also will have the lead guide’s phone Chapman Stevens through HCCI International Insurance
number so you can always contact them whilst out on the Company PLC.
road, if needed.
TRAVEL
GUIDES & SUPPORT We ask that you all fly into Tenerife South Airport as this
Polka Dot has a high standard for our guides, meaning is closer to our starting and finishing points on this trip.
they must be experienced in the mountains but also We can arrange transfers from Tenerife North Airport for
approachable for you needs. We have a standard 1:5 a supplementary charge.
guide client ratio which means you will always have
someone available to help you; whether with technical There are a variety of flights available from different UK
help, advice or just an encouraging word. airports, if you would like any advice or help, please give
us a call or we recommend the free comparison website
We have support minibuses out on the road which is fully SkyScanner.
stocked with carb drink and energy food that will help you
keep up your energy and also give you a lift if they need For this trip, we ask that you arrive before 17:30 so that
it. You will never be far from someone to look after you. we can get you to the first hotel with enough time for
bike set up, dinner and the briefing about the trip and
next day.
POLKA DOT CYCLING Telephone: +44 (0)1869 278 130
www.polkadotcycling.com
Tenerife & La Gomera RAID 2020
The Spring Randonnée or Training Week
EXTRAS AND UPGRADES
FOOD
On our trips you eat like the pros! With the constant use • Single room supplement = £370
of energy, we know that the best way for people to be • Bike hire = £210
comfortable and keep their energy up; they must eat
"little and often". This means no bloating, discomfort and INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE
loosing energy. We carry a full range of snacks and
energy drinks suitable for cyclists along with quiches,
• 7 nights in carefully selected hotels including evening
baguettes, fruit, cakes, sweets (like the infamous
meals 4* and 5* hotels, wine with dinner.
Haribo!), cereal bars, nuts, crisps and more. For most of
• Daily regional buffet breakfast
our clients this means all their food is covered.
• Return Ferry to La Gomera
• Day/Ride Food
We include all your 7 evening meals which will consist of
• On and off the bike photography package to capture
a three-course meal at the hotel or local restaurant.
those precious memories.
• A welcome pack including Polka Dot Cycling jersey,
Garmin files, printed maps and profiles, local
information.
ACCOMODATION
We want our trip to be as comfortable and as enjoyable NOT INCLUDED
as possible which means using quality hotels. We use
mainly 4* and 5* accommodation. • Additional Drinks or minibar costs (including beers,
soft drinks and coffees).
We vet our accommodations very thoroughly before we • Flights - flights are not included in the price of the
use them on our trips. This means no nightmare hotels holiday, but under the Tenerife FAQs or our general
so you can get a good night sleep. FAQs on our website, by clicking on the links, and you
can see the available airlines and departure airports.
Please note all prices quoted are based on two people
• Travel, Medical or Bike Insurance
sharing a room. We can of course arrange single
occupancy at an extra cost of £370/person.
FINALISE YOUR BOOKING
BIKE HIRE To assure your place on this exlcusive tour, please book
online at our website;
If you would prefer to not go through the hassle of
travelling with your bike, then we can arrange a hire bike https://www.polkadotcycling.com/cycling-holidays-
for you for the supplement of £210. There is also the menu/tenerife-and-la-gomera-raid
possibility of upgrades.
For any further questions please don’t hesitate to get in
Please contact us for more information on the bikes touch with Niamh either by phone +44 (0)1869 278 130
available on your particular trip or check our website. or email jeanette@polkadotcycling.com.
We look forward to seeing you out on this new
exclusive RAID with us and creating some
unforgettable memories!
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