Andalucia Bike race Again

  
Photo of mark and mel on stage 2 2014– What a difference a day can make! Stage one we were riding in 20 degrees, finishing with rosy faces from the heat of the sun and the trails were very dry and dusty. Stage two was the complete opposite, with really tough conditions; rain all day and so much mud and at points it was thick like clay weighing us down.

Great trails and location
Andalucia is a fantastic location to hold a stage race and with the race starting in four different locations across Andalucia the scenery and trails can be varied.
In 2018 the race starts in Linares on the outskirts of Jaen for the first two days before moving on to Andujar for a day and then to the historic town of Cordoba for stages 4 and 6 with stage 5 being held at Villaviciosa de Cordoba about 45 minutes drive north of Cordoba.. Previously the riding from Jaen offered bigger mountains whereas Cordoba is more rocky and slightly more undulating, though still with plenty of climbing. The trails have very different characteristics to our trails back home in South Wales, which at present are muddy, slippery and hard going. I remember many river crossings, racing amongst olive trees, fast rocky trails and plenty of singletrack. Of course there are sections of wide dirt roads but much of the climbing and descending is on fun and technical trails. The stages are a nice length of around three to four-and-a-half hours - not so long that you stop enjoying it. 

Affordability
I love stage racing but it can be expensive, so how many we do is always limited as is our choice of which ones to do, some just seem far too expensive to justify. Andalucia Bike Race as stage races go can be raced at a very reasonable price. Entry is as low as 300 euros if you enter early and this goes up to 490 euros. Traveling in groups helps reduce the costs and this year Mark and I are accompanied by Crispin Doyle (for his great company of course). Andalucia is easy for us to get to – we will fly to Malaga early Friday morning from Bristol, pick up a hire car and drive to the outskirts of Linares which is roughly a 3 hour drive. We have two apartments booked, one near Linares and then one in Cordoba, both of which are very reasonable as it works out about 200 pounds each for the 8 nights. We choose to stay self-catering to keep costs down but also so we can prepare our own meals and eat when we like. Most racers stay in the hotels which can be booked through the organisers. It does take some searching to find self-catering accommodation near the start in Linares whereas in Cordobra there are plenty of options.
With the race organisers using four separate start venues up to an hour’s drive apart it’s each rider’s responsibility to arrange transport so the use of a car is essential. 

Why I like an early season stage race.

 Andalucia Bike race is a great way to kick start the race season. It gives the opportunity of a hard training week of racing on some awesome trails. If you race XC the race can be a great way to prepare for a long XC season. For me nowadays my focus is shifting away from XC and I am using it more for the experience and making sure I keep a good level of fitness. 

Entering Andalucia Bike Race, now only days away, definitely helped to keep me focused through the winter months. The chance to ride on different terrain and in a warmer climate is a welcome change. My training I believe has been going well and I am keen to see how I go in the race compared to some of the world’s top riders.
Other than myself, Mark and Crispin there is a wider group of British riders going, I plan to write blogs throughout the race to let you know how we are getting on. I think its going to be a good race.