In recent years, the Sierra Nevada has become one of the most important meeting points for professional cyclists preparing for the Tour de France. The main reason for this is the extreme altitude: the roads around the training centre above Granada are at an altitude of over 2300 metres, and the Pico del Veleta is one of the highest asphalted points in Europe. The thin air forces the body to produce more red blood cells, a natural effect that improves oxygen uptake and therefore increases performance. At the same time, the region offers long, even climbs, little traffic and a stable climate. For many teams, this is the perfect combination to sharpen their form for July.
The crowds are correspondingly large at the moment. Several WorldTour teams have moved their training camps to the Sierra Nevada and familiar faces can be seen on the roads every day. Among others, Florian Lipowitz, last year's Tour bronze medallist, has been spotted there for days working on his climbing form. In addition to Lipowitz, dominator Tadej Pogačar and his former team-mate Juan Ayuso have also been training together in the Sierra Nevada.
Riders from Visma-Lease a Bike also make intensive use of the altitude in the Spanish mountains, as do numerous young professionals who fill their Strava data with impressive altitude metres. Particularly striking is the amount of training undertaken by French talent Paul Seixas, who has almost reached Grand Tour levels in a short space of time. If you are currently out and about in the Sierra Nevada, you will encounter a colourful mix of Tour captains, noble helpers and up-and-coming riders, an unofficial but high-calibre gathering of the cycling scene.
And there is another advantage to training in the Sierra Nevada. It's quiet, at least for now. While the cycling elite collect their metres in altitude, there are usually not too many amateur cyclists around them. Certainly a welcome change. But it remains to be seen how long it will stay that way.
Leon Weidner
Working student
