Get your season off to the best possible start with our Spring Training weeks close to Barcelona, Spain.

You'll be based in the Penedes (Sitges), the cosmopolitan capital of the Spanish Mediterranean, just 30 km south of Barcelona. The traffic-free routes through the vineyards and mountain ranges of the Penedes are perfect for performance cyclists. Add to that the mild weather conditions and limited rainfall which allow for great year-round cycling and it's no surprise that many of the top Spanish professionals including Joaquim Rodriguez (UCI World Ranking Champion), Juan-Antonio Flecha (3rd in the 2010 Paris-Roubaix Classic), and Xavier Tondo (6th in the Vuelta a Espana) choose to live here.

Watch Peter Thomson riding our Spring Training Routes:

 

Prices start at just $570 per week!

That's right - just $570 for a 7-day/6-night training camp when sharing a 4-person apartment.

In these tough economic times we've made our training camps more accessible by offering self-catering luxury apartments. Get together with your riding partners: share a 4-person apartment and pay just $570 per person for a week-long stay, or share a 2-person apartment and pay $750 per person per week.

If you're coming alone but would like to share an apartment - just request a 2 or 4-person apartment on the booking form and we'll match you up with other riders.

Hotel accommodations are also available at the 4-star Hotel Calipolis. See the following table for full pricing details:

Accommodation Type	Price per person for 1 week (7 days - 6 nights)	Additional Nights Price per person /per night
4-person apartment	$570	$95
2-person apartment	$750	$125
4-star Hotel - sharing a double room	$1,470	$245
4-star Hotel - in a single room	$1,980	$330

Apartments: Ideal for couples or groups, our apartments are modern and newly furnished. The apartments are located in different parts of Sitges but all are situated in the downtown area within 5 minutes walking distance from the beach and town center. Most are equipped with English speaking Sky Satellite TV, wi-fi or ADSL internet access, fully equipped kitchens, washing machines and air conditioning.

Hotel accommodations: the 4-star Hotel Calipolis is situated directly on the beach-front promenade in the center of downtown Sitges. The Hotel Calipolis has air-conditioning, wi-fi access, solarium, summer terrace, swimming pool and holds the prestigious Spanish "Q" quality award.

Dates

Our Spring Training Camp runs from March 12 to March 27.

Join us at any time during this period - choose any arrival and departure dates within this 2 week window.

The Venue

Our training weeks are based in the Penedes Region of Spain, in the cosmopolitan resort of Sitges. Situated on the Mediterranean coast, just 30 kilometers south of Barcelona, Sitges is an incredibly charming and historic resort community. Spend a few days discovering the old town and the beach-front cafes and restaurants and you'll quickly fall in love with the area.

 

Hot to get there?

Our training camp is situated just 30km south of Barcelona International Airport.

From the US there are now multiple non-stop flights between major US airports and Barcelona.

From the UK and other parts of Europe there are numerous low-cost flights using Easyjet, Vueling and other low-cost companies.

Please contact us if you'd like us to arrange transfers from the airport to Sitges.

 

The Training Rides

The training rides leave from the beach (in front of the Hotel Calipolis) every morning at 9:00am. The rides will cover 65 to 85 miles with a minimum of 3,000ft elevation gain each day.

The terrain in the Penedes is ideal for spring training rides. From the vineyards in the south to the Alt Penedes mountains further north, the region is characterized by traffic-free, single-lane roads and lots of challenging climbs (there are no flat roads in the Penedes!).

The rides are intended to create your early-season "base", build your overall endurance and improve climbing, descending, cornering and pace-line skills.

A Typical Ride Profile

Climb the "Hors-Categorie" - Rat Penat!

For the climbers there's the option to attempt the infamous Rat Penat climb with it's maximum grades of over 20%! Check out the elevation profile.

Watch the video of the top pro riders in the world being humbled by the "Rat" on Stage 10 of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana:

 

What's included in the price

• Accommodations
• All breakfasts (hotel accommodations only)
  
• TBT ride leaders - at least 1 ride leader per ride
• TBT support vehicle
• Mechanical assistance
• TBT Route maps, cue sheets and elevation profiles

What's not included

• Airfare
• Transfer to/from Barcelona Airport to Sitges
• Meals
• Travel and personal insurance
• Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities

Optional Extras

To keep costs at a minimum we have eliminated as many extra "services" as possible. If required we can provide the following additional services.

• Half board or full board can be arranged at the Hotel Calipolis
• Cyclist-specific lunches and dinners can can be arranged at a local restaurant in downtown Sitges
• Transfers to/from Barcelona International Airport can be organized
• Orbea Bike Rentals are available
  
  Please contact us for full details and pricing on these additional services.

Stock up on much-needed calories at the Claudius Italian Restaurant

Bring your Non-Riding Partner!

While you're out riding your bike every morning on our training rides your partner will find a multitude of activities in and around Sitges. A stroll through the charming old-town of Sitges followed by a café con leche at one of the many beach-side cafés or a shopping spree through the many designer boutiques - Sitges is a fascinating town just waiting to be discovered.

And after lunch together in Sitges why not head into Barcelona, Europe's top travel destination - it's only 30 minutes by train to the center of downtown Barcelona!

We can also organise daily visits to local attractions such as Montserrat or the Roman ruins in nearby Tarragona (a UNESCO heritage site) or a visit to the many excellent local wineries.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to kick-start your 2010 season and enjoy a fantastic vacation with your non-riding partner!

 

Check out the weather

Expect daily high temperatures of between 60°F and 70°F and mostly sunny skies!

Check out the 5-day forecast: click here