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- The French Alps and Pyrenees: ride the iconic Tour climbs — Alpe d'Huez, the Col du Galibier, Mont Ventoux, the Tourmalet. A pilgrimage every cyclist should make once
- Tuscany, Italy: the strade bianche (white gravel roads), the Chianti hills, and the cultural immersion. Best for gravel and all-road riders
- Girona, Spain: the pro-cyclist capital of Europe. Smooth roads, varied terrain, and a cycling culture that makes it the best base for a riding trip
- Colombia: high-altitude climbing, passionate cycling culture, and the climbs that produced the Escobar-era Colombian climbers (Nairo Quintana, Egan Bernal, Rigoberto Urán)
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Europe — the classics
The top European cycling destinations, by what they offer.
| Destination | Best for | Iconic feature | When to go |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Alps | Climbing (Tour climbs) | Alpe d'Huez, Galibier, Ventoux | June–September |
| Pyrenees | Climbing (Tourmalet) | Tourmalet, Aubisque, Luz Ardiden | June–September |
| Girona, Spain | All-around road riding | Pro-cyclist culture, smooth roads | March–June, Sept–Oct |
| Tuscany, Italy | Gravel / all-road | Strade bianche, Chianti hills | April–June, Sept–Oct |
| Mallorca, Spain | Winter training camp | Tramuntana mountains, perfect roads | February–May, Sept–November |
| Dolomites, Italy | Climbing (scenic) | Sella Ronda, Passo Stelvio | June–September |
| Flanders, Belgium | Cobbles / Classics | Tour of Flanders bergs, Roubaix pavé | April–September |
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Beyond Europe
Colombia: the spiritual home of climbing. High-altitude mountains (Bogotá is at 2,640m), legendary climbs (Alto de Letras, one of the longest climbs in the world at 80km), and a cycling culture as passionate as Belgium's. Colombia produces world-class climbers (Quintana, Bernal, Urán) because the terrain demands it. For riders who want to test themselves on endless high-altitude climbs, Colombia is unmatched.
Taiwan: the cycling island. The east coast (Taroko Gorge, the Pacific cliffs) offers dramatic riding, and the central mountains (Wuling, the highest paved road in Taiwan at 3,275m) offer climbing. Taiwan is also the manufacturing capital of the cycling industry — a bike pilgrimage has a manufacturing dimension too. The infrastructure (bike-friendly trains, cycling lanes) is excellent.
California (US): from the Pacific Coast Highway (a classic touring route) to the climbs of Mount Tamalpais and the Sierra Nevada, California offers varied riding year-round. The climbing around Berkeley and Marin County (the birthplace of mountain biking) and the desert riding around Palm Springs make California a diverse destination.
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How to plan a cycling trip
Rent or bring your bike: many destinations have quality bike rental (Girona, Mallorca, the Alps are well-served), saving the hassle of flying with a bike. For destinations with poorer rental options, bring your own (in a bike box or bag — see our flying-with-a-bike guide).
Book accommodation in a cycling hub: staying in Girona town, Morzine (Alps), or Pollença (Mallorca) puts you among other cyclists, with bike-friendly hotels, cafes, and route knowledge. A cycling-focused base transforms a trip.
Hire a local guide for the first day: they'll show you the iconic routes, the local etiquette, and the best climbs — knowledge that would take a week to accumulate solo. Then explore on your own for the rest of the trip. And always check the season — the Alps and Dolomites are snow-covered in winter; the southern destinations (Mallorca, Andalusia) are best in spring and autumn.
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