Leyenda de Tartessos

The Leyenda de Tartessos is a four-stage mountain-bike race in the province of Huelva, Andalusia. The sixth edition runs from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 January 2027, starting with Stage 1 in Cortegana in the Sierra de Aracena and finishing with Stage 4 in Lepe. The organisers describe it as an S2 marathon-category race on the official UCI calendar, made up of three marathon stages and one time trial.

Routes and distances

The official 2027 stage page lists the following. Stage dates and start times have not been published yet.

• Stage 1 – Cortegana: old tracks, steep climbs and fast wooded descents in the Sierra de Aracena; distance and elevation not yet published.
• Stage 2 – Almonaster La Real (time trial): 23 km with 800 m of climbing in the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park.
• Stage 3 – El Almendro – Villanueva de los Castillejos: 60 km with 1,160 m of climbing through the Andévalo, with cork oak and holm oak pasture.
• Stage 4 – Lepe: 45 km with 500 m of climbing, starting and finishing in the town centre around Plaza de España.

Registration

Entries are handled through the official registration page on RockTheSport; the opening date and prices had not been published when this page was updated. See the official website for the latest details.

Why race it

The 2027 route takes riders into new territory, from the mountains of the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park, through the Andévalo, to the coastal town of Lepe. Mixing a time trial with marathon stages makes it a varied test of stamina and technical skill.

Where to stay

The race starts up in the hills at Cortegana, but it ends on the Huelva coast, and that is where our certified accommodation is found. Booking a base around Lepe and the Costa de la Luz gives you somewhere to recover once the finish line is behind you, with the sea, pools and spas close at hand after three days of mountain-bike racing. The distances below are measured from Lepe, the Stage 4 finish.

Oh!tels Islantilla – Lepe, about 6 km from the finish. A Cycling Friendly Bronze hotel beside Islantilla beach, with its own Cycling Center, bike rental and repair tools and supplies on the listing. After the final stage the spa with its indoor pool and thermal circuit, the Turkish bath and the fitness area are the obvious place to start recovering, and the international buffet helps refuel tired legs.

Fuerte el Rompido – El Rompido, about 8 km from the finish. This Silver-certified hotel is the most fully equipped for riders of the three: bike wash, repair tools and supplies, mechanical aid, bike rental, laundry for your kit and a daily weather forecast. It sits on a hill above the Río Piedras, 400 metres from the fishing village of El Rompido, whose bars and restaurants are a short stroll away for a post-race supper.

Parador de Ayamonte – Ayamonte, about 17 km from the finish. A four-star Parador built on the ruins of a Roman castle, overlooking the mouth of the Guadiana river and the border with Portugal. It offers secure indoor bicycle parking, a pool and free parking, which suits riders who want to stretch the trip with an easy spin across the International Bridge to the Algarve.

Event weekend fills quickly along this stretch of coast, so book early, and browse more cycling-friendly accommodation to compare options.