Mediterranean Epic Gran Fondo

The Mediterranean Epic Gran Fondo returns on Saturday 24 April 2027, starting and finishing in Oropesa del Mar on the Castellón coast. It is a road cyclosportive that heads inland from the Mediterranean into the mountains of Castellón province.

Routes and distances

The organiser offers three options, with the shorter ones created by shortcuts from the main course:

• Long route: around 196–198 km (the organiser’s pages quote both figures).
• Medium route: 160 km, cutting back at the second checkpoint at km 65.
• Short route: 110 km, cutting back at the first checkpoint at km 55 in Albocàsser.

In the 2026 edition the course featured the climbs of Cabanes, Serratella, Ares del Maestrat, Culla and La Bandereta. The organiser says the 2027 route will probably be the same or very similar, but this has not been confirmed. Checkpoint cut-off times apply on the shortcuts, so plan your pacing.

Registration

Registration opened on 22 October 2026 and closes on 14 April 2027 at 14:00, or earlier if the participant limit is reached. Entry fees rise during the season: from €79 in the early period to €89 from 1 April. Non-federated riders pay an extra €12 for mandatory accident insurance, and an optional flexible-cancellation add-on costs €6. Full details are on the official website.

Why ride it

The event is part of the Mediterranean Epic series, which also includes an MTB stage race, a triathlon and a gravel event around Oropesa del Mar. The long route links the coastal start with a string of named mountain passes in the interior of Castellón. With three distances, riders can choose a day that suits their fitness.

Where to stay

With a long day in the hills ahead, sleeping in or close to Oropesa del Mar makes life simple: you can arrive on Friday, collect your bib without rushing and roll to the start line on Saturday morning with fresh legs. Afterwards, a short transfer back to the coast means a pool, a massage or a proper meal rather than a long drive home. Here are three certified cycling-friendly options on this stretch of the Castellón coast.

Hotel Marina d’Or Playa – in Oropesa del Mar, right by the start area. This four-star hotel holds the Bikefriendly quality label and the Bike Territory certification of the Spanish cycling federation. It has a dedicated Bike Station with individual boxes for your equipment, plus bike repair tools, a bike wash and bike rental on the listing. A buffet geared to athletes, a gym, a spa and a pool make recovery easy once you are back from the mountains.

Hotel Intur Orange – Benicàssim, about 11 km from the start. A hotel with a long record of hosting amateur and professional riders, and an official base for several editions of the Vuelta a España. Its cycling centre offers secure, enclosed and monitored bike storage, with mechanical aid, repair supplies and a bike wash. Add a professional gym, a 25-metre indoor pool, massage and laundry, and your kit and legs are looked after before and after the gran fondo.

Hotel Intur Bonaire – Benicàssim, about 11 km from the start. Four-star and a short walk from the sea, it shares the sports facilities of its sister hotel 200 metres away: an enclosed space to store, clean and repair your bike, a Technogym gym and a heated 25-metre pool. Lockers, massage, laundry and route information are also listed, which suits riders who like to prepare the long route carefully.

Event weekend is popular, so book early, and browse more cycling-friendly accommodation to compare options near Oropesa del Mar.