04/04/2026
Cyclingfriends Report: From Battling the Wind to the "Holy Mass"
Dear cycling friends, here is a look back at two wonderful days of riding in the Calpe area. With the sun on our faces and the legs spinning, we managed to clock up quite some mileage.
Thursday, April 2nd: Wind, Climbs, and the Split
Thursday’s program featured a substantial ride: 140 km heading towards Gandia from Oliva. There was a lot of interest, with no fewer than 28 cyclists at the start. To keep everyone happy, we split into two groups:
Group 1 (16 cyclists): For those with fast legs. They kept a high pace throughout and the atmosphere was great—everyone was very pleased with the high average speed.
Group 2 (12 cyclists): My group. We took things much steadier so everyone could complete the long ride comfortably. Together with Mat, I took the lead at the start.
The Ride:
The ride out to Gandia was a tough challenge due to a stiff headwind all the way to the stop. Once we arrived in Gandia, it was incredibly busy; we had to wait a long time for our coffee.
After the break, the climbing began. We headed towards Forna, followed by the well-known Sagra and Orba climbs. Ultimately, everyone returned to Calpe satisfied. Splitting the groups was definitely the right call: one group could go full gas, while the other could finish the long ride at a relaxed pace.
Friday, April 3rd: Social Ride to Velosol
Yesterday, Good Friday, was a true Social Ride. A large group of 24 cyclists set off from Baguet towards Velosol.
Because it was Good Friday, there was almost no traffic on the route, which made riding in such a large group easy. At Velosol, tables were reserved, and my wife and Martin’s wife were there waiting for us. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the relaxed ride continued later on the terrace at Baguet.
Looking Ahead: Holy Sunday and Monday
Saturday, April 4th: A rest day today. Enjoy the sunny Saturday!
Sunday, April 5th (Tour of Flanders): Tomorrow, everything takes a backseat to the "High Mass" of cycling. For the 9:15 AM group, there is a short ride of about 50 km planned (no coffee stop). This ensures everyone is back in time for the race, because in Belgium, the Tour of Flanders is more sacred than Easter Sunday! Anyone who wants to join is welcome at 9:15 AM.
Monday, April 6th: We will do a ride of about 70 km. This time with a coffee stop, so we can share all our stories about the Tour of Flanders and the race highlights.
Wishing everyone a lovely, sunny Saturday!
Best regards, JP