Gran Canaria Cycling Trip: A Long-Awaited Return
For years, Gran Canaria was an annual pilgrimage—an escape from the UK winter and what was a key part of my early season training when I was racing. That all stopped when Covid came along, throwing a spanner in the works for everyone! But finally, for my dad’s 60th birthday, we made our long-overdue return. I booked the trip last summer with the goal of getting fit for it—Gran Canaria is relentlessly hilly, and there’s nowhere to hide if you’re not in shape. My mum, wisely, hired an e-bike.
It was a special trip, just me, my partner, my mum, and my dad. As luck would have it, my dad’s friend (who also cycles) happened to be out there with his wife, so it was great to see some familiar faces.
Overcoming Setbacks
Unfortunately, the past seven months have been rough for me health-wise, and I was nowhere near as fit as I’d hoped. At one point, I even considered cancelling the trip. But after finally getting a diagnosis and the right medication, I was at least in a position to do some easy rides. Then, two weeks before we left, a brutal virus hit me. I was off work for three days—the first time I’d had that many sick days in 11 years at DHW Agencies. By the time we flew out, I was just about over it but knew I had to take it steady. Unfit and still recovering, I had no choice but to pace myself.
Day 1: Monte León & the Café in the Cave
The first ride was to Monte León and what we call the ‘Café in the Cave’—a classic stop for us. It was a steady two-hour ride with 2,000 feet of climbing, a gentle way to ease back in.
Day 2: Soria
Soria is another old favorite, a ride we’ve done many times. It’s a 10km flat stretch before hitting the climb, which takes around 30 minutes. This was a three-hour ride with 2,800 feet of climbing. I could feel the lack of training, but I was just happy to be back in the mountains, even if my legs weren’t quite agreeing.
Day 3: Rest & Market Day
Gran Canaria isn’t just about cycling, so we took a rest day to explore the local market. I couldn’t resist a short 4km walk, plus plenty of extra steps meandering through the stalls.
Day 4: Fataga & Watching the E-Bike Zoom Off
We rode up to Fataga with my dad’s friend and his wife, who had also hired an e-bike. Watching my mum and her zoom up the climbs, effortlessly chatting away, was both funny and frustrating. Meanwhile, I was slogging away on my Moda Finale road bike, taking it one pedal stroke at a time. This was the hardest day so far—3.5 hours and 4,200 feet of climbing.
Day 5: My Dad’s 60th Birthday Ride
For my dad’s big day, he wanted to go back to Monte León but add in a loop with some steeper ascents. It was a 2.5-hour ride with 2,200 feet of climbing, finishing, of course, at the Café in the Cave. A birthday well spent.
Day 6: Back to Soria & a Familiar Face
The final ride took us back to Soria, and I had one thing on my mind—my favorite mango and papaya smoothie from the café. This time, we happened to bump into a work colleague. Small world! The ride was 2.5 hours with 2,500 feet of climbing, a fitting way to round off the trip.
Reflections: Small Wins & Future Goals
This trip was nothing like the ones I used to do in my racing days when we’d rack up 22–24 hours of riding in a week. I don’t think I even managed half that this time, but I was just grateful to be back on the bike after months of illness.
I also set some PRs, despite everything. Being on my Moda Finale carbon road bike made such a difference—I felt so planted on the bike, more confident on descents than I’ve ever been. Carlos Sastre (yes, Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre!) did my bike fit on the Finale, and it’s transformed the way I ride. The combination of its balanced geometry, responsive handling, and stability on descents made every climb and every turn feel effortless. Even though I’m not racing anymore, feeling that connection to my bike made every climb and every descent that much more enjoyable.
Gran Canaria, it’s good to be back. Hopefully, I can build on this and return fitter next time!
Author: Mads Scott
