10 picos Sierra de Espadán

La 10 Picos (Desafío 10 Picos Sierra de Espadán) is a road cyclosportive organised by Club Ciclista Demarrage Valencia. The most recent edition, the sixth, was held on Saturday 16 May 2026, starting and finishing in Onda, in the province of Castelló, with a 08:30 start.

Routes and distances

• Long route: 134.7 km according to the organiser’s 2026 GPX file, with around 3,300 m of climbing reported by the press for the 2026 edition.
• Short route: 65.3 km according to the organiser’s GPX file, with around 1,300 m of climbing reported for 2026.

Both routes cross the Sierra de Espadán; the organiser’s photo galleries feature the Eslida and Villamalur passes.

Explore the route on Cycling Friendly: 10 Picos Sierra de Espadán (long route)

Registration

The organiser opened registration for the 2027 edition on 24 May 2026, with a tiered price: 55 euros on the opening day, 65 euros until 29 September 2026, 75 euros from 30 September 2026 to 30 January 2027 and 85 euros from 31 January 2027, excluding insurance and licence. Riders must arrange their own 2027 federation licence. The date of the 2027 edition has not been announced yet. Details at the official website.

Why ride it

The ride is run with the services of a professional race: the regional tourism board lists a finisher medal, four refreshment points and a giant paella at the finish. Its mix of a demanding long route and a shorter option makes it accessible to different levels.

Where to stay

With around 135 km and some 3,300 m of climbing waiting in the Sierra de Espadán, you will want to arrive the day before, collect your bib without rushing and sleep close enough to reach the start in Onda with time to spare. The coast around Benicàssim and Orpesa offers the nearest cycling-certified beds to the start town, and a good night’s rest here pays off by the time you reach the long climbs of the second half.

Hotel Intur Orange – Benicàssim, about 28 km from the start. A hotel with a long record of hosting amateur and elite riders, and an official base for several editions of the Vuelta a España. It has a secure, enclosed and monitored bike centre, bike repair tools, a bike wash and mechanical aid, so your machine can be race-ready before the climbs of Eslida and Torralba. A 25 m indoor pool, gym, massage and laundry make the recovery easy.

Hotel Intur Bonaire – Benicàssim, about 28 km from the start. Just 200 m from its sister hotel and sharing its professional cycling centre, it offers the same place to store, clean and repair your bike, plus a heated 25 m pool and a Technogym-equipped gym. Picnic, route information and cyclist offers are listed among its services, handy when you need advice on the roads around Castellón before the big day.

Hotel Marina d’Or Playa – Orpesa, about 39 km from the start. This sea-view four-star carries the Bike Territory certification of the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation. It has a Bike Station of almost 300 m with individual boxes for equipment, a gym, spa and pool, and a buffet geared towards athletes, a comfortable option if you are travelling with family or a group.

Event weekend fills up quickly on this stretch of coast, so book early, and browse more cycling-friendly accommodation to find the right base for your ride.