Words by Hannah Reynolds on Twitter and Instagram
Gran Canaria has all year round warm weather, a huge variety of butter smooth quiet roads, a stunning coastline and mountainous interior, which makes for a varied mix of riding.
Flights are available from most UK airports and flight times are around 4.30 hours, making it more mid-haul than short-haul. Close enough for a long weekend but far enough to guarantee you warm weather, even in the depths of a UK winter.
The other Canary Islands, such as Lanzarote and Tenerife are also popular cycling destinations but Gran Canaria offers a little more variety in terms of the terrain and route options.
Cycling in Tenerife is very fixated on the slopes of the extinct volcano of Mount Teide, which is used by many pro teams who sleep at altitude in the hotel at the top and train on its lower slopes but one of the best views of Mount Teide is from the Pico de les Nieves on Gran Canaria.
Sandy beaches, delicious Canarian food and stunning landscapes make this Gran Canaria the perfect spot to escape to when the British winter is getting you down.
How to get there
Served by a number of budget airlines including EasyJet and Jet2, Gran Canaria is easy to reach from all of the UK.
The airport is located in the eastern part of the island, 12 miles south of the busiest town on the island Las Palmas. Maspalomas is a popular tourist destination with those looking for the beach and golf, as well as bike riders as it is in a good position for most cycling routes. There are many companies such as Hoppa offering cheap private transfers or you can find hotel and transfer packages and complete holidays from jet2.
