Gran Fondo Alberto Contador

The TotalEnergies Gran Fondo Alberto Contador is a road cyclosportive organised by the Alberto Contador Foundation, with the former Grand Tour winner as its figurehead. The 2027 edition is scheduled for Saturday 18 September 2027, with the start and finish at the Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort in Oliva, on the Valencian coast.

Routes and distances

The organisers publish the full route, elevation profile and distance markers only once the edition is close, so the 2027 figures are not yet available. In recent editions the ride has taken cyclists from Oliva into the hills of the surrounding Valencian interior, with climbs such as the Coll de Rates, the Coll de Sa Creueta and the ascent to Vall d’Ebo. The 2023 route, for reference, covered 146.4 km with more than 2,500 metres of accumulated climbing. Check the official route page for the definitive course and for the shorter option on offer in each edition.

Registration

Entries are handled online through the event’s official registration platform. For the 2026 edition, registration opened in late March and closed the day before the ride, so it is wise to watch for the 2027 opening in the spring. Prices and the participant limit for 2027 have not been published yet. Full details are on the official website.

Why ride it

This gran fondo has been held in Oliva for several consecutive years, and the foundation presents each edition with a guest of honour from the world of cycling. Starting and finishing at a single resort keeps logistics simple, and the route combines coastal roads with sustained climbing in the mountains of Valencia province. Autumn conditions in September are typically a draw for riders from across Europe.

Where to stay

With the start and finish at the Oliva Nova resort, arriving the day before makes sense: you can collect your bib without rushing, check your bike and be on the line fresh, then recover close to the finish. The coast between Gandía and Dénia has several Cycling Friendly certified places to sleep, from the resort itself to hotels and a B&B in the Marina Alta valleys.

Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort – in Oliva, right at the start and finish. This 4-star beachfront hotel holds the CF Silver certificate and is described as the official host of the Gran Fondo. It lists bike rental, repair tools and supplies, a bike wash, laundry, route information and luggage transport, and after the ride there is a spa with ten treatment and massage cabins. You can walk to the start line, which is hard to beat on race morning.

Hotel ASA La Marina – Ondara, about 12 km from the start. A modern 4-star with a dedicated cycling centre, it offers a closed and supervised Bici Box with tools, a bike wash area, a restricted-access security room for guests’ bikes and quality rental bikes. A breakfast buffet and GPS routes through the Cycling Friendly app round out a practical option for riders who want secure storage and a short transfer.

Syncrosfera Fitness & Health Hotel – Muntanya de la Sella, near Dénia, about 13 km from the start. A CF Gold, 46-room hotel aimed squarely at endurance athletes, with a cycling centre for 30 bikes, a tool bench, a washing area and laundry service. It also has a heated semi-Olympic pool, a TechnoGym training centre and physiotherapy services, and some rooms are equipped with hypoxia systems, a distinctive choice for riders who like to train and recover with the data in hand.

VS Gandía Palace Hotel – Gandía beach, about 15 km from the start. Certified Cycling Friendly Gold, it has an enclosed, video-monitored Bike Zone with space for 74 bikes, including private boxes for groups, plus a tool workshop, bike wash, bike rental, laundry, massage and a spa. It suits club groups and anyone who wants the Vía Verde de la Safor on the doorstep for a spin-out the day before.

Casa Mistela – Xaló, about 19 km from the start. A friendly B&B in the heart of the Jalón Valley, run by John and Sonja, with breakfast, a bike wash, laundry, picnic options and route information. The Col de Rates is close by, so it appeals to riders who prefer a quieter, rural base with the climbs on their doorstep.

Event weekend fills quickly in this part of Valencia, so book early. You can also browse more cycling-friendly accommodation across the region.