Where in Tenerife to stay for a week riding?

50Degrees

Hi, we're going to Tenerife for a week riding in April, any recommendations of where to stay on the Island to act as a good base to do different hard routes? Puerto de la cruz (north) and los cristianos (south) seem like two good options? thinking of somewhere akin to puerto pollensa in Mallorca (if such a place exists!)
any help gratefully received!

cheers
Andy

IanSmitton

Hi Andy,

There is nowhere exactly like Puerto Pollensa in Tenerife, because the best rides are spread around the island a bit more than they are in Mallorca. Of the two you have mentioned, I would prefer Puerto de la Cruz because I think the scenery is much nicer all the way along the north coast (it does rain more there though as well). Also traffic tends to be a bit busier in the south, around Los Cristianos.

Both are fine for El Teide, and similar in terms of difficulty. If you are happy to ride 120km+ (which is quite a long way in Tenerife given the steepness of the climbs), then you could also comfortably do Masca and Puente de Teno from both locations, which are two of the more popular mountain routes. The main advantage, however, of Puerto de la Cruz over Los Cristianos is that you can go into the Natural Parks in the north. There is one route along the TF-12 road which, in my opinion, is one of the picturesque routes in all of Spain.

Of the towns themselves; the area around Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas tends to have more young families and also clubbing types. Purto de la Cruz has some clubs as well, but it seems to me to attract more of an older crowd. Not much between them though, both have lots of hotels and reasonable beaches.

I wrote a short article a while ago just detailing my favourite climbs, doesn't go into much detail but lists the best four routes in my opinion: (http://www.cyclefiesta.com/multimedia/a ... places.htm) you should be able to reach all of these from Puerto de la Cruz.

synchronicity

Anywhere you stay in Tenerife, you will be doing hard routes. ;-)

Generally if you stay in a Villa / Finca up away from the coast, riding is better.

Cornish-J

i stayed in los cristianos at the start of december for 2 weeks - great training, not much variation in routes though, very much either up or down riding and some of the roads were absolutely terrible.

avoid at all costs!!
http://app.strava.com/activities/31824033#

epic!
http://app.strava.com/activities/32345531#

50Degrees

brilliant thanks folks, appreciated.
now to get some mileage in to make Tiede that little bit more enjoyable... if only there wasn't 4 inches of snow...
Andy