Calpe — Port de Tudons & Puerto de Confrides

We rode this in March 2026 — and it earned its reputation as the queen stage of the Costa Blanca.

The first 35 kilometres roll pleasantly southwest from Calpe through Altea and into the foothills. We stopped in Finestrat at Bar El Cantonet for coffee and a snack before the real climbing began. A good call — Port de Tudons demands respect from the first kilometre.

The climb itself is 15.2 kilometres, and it plays out in two very different acts. The first 11 kilometres are steady and manageable — a long, rhythmic effort through small villages and open hillsides with views opening up as you gain height. There were a lot of cyclists on the road that day, which made the pacing easier. The final 4 kilometres are a different story: the gradient ramps up, the landscape becomes wilder, the trees close in, and the silence takes over. By the time the summit at 1,025 metres arrives, you have earned it.

The descent from Tudons and the ride across the high plateau toward Benasau is one of the quiet highlights of the route. We stopped at Nou Serrella in Benasau — a good place to eat before Puerto de Confrides. Short but punchy after Tudons: 5.44km with ramps exceeding 20% on the steepest sections.

The descent from Confrides is the reward the whole day has been building toward. Good asphalt, flowing bends, the turquoise Guadalest reservoir appearing far below. We passed through Guadalest without stopping that day — we had already visited on another ride — but the village clinging to its limestone crag above the water is extraordinary from the road.

Nearly 25 kilometres of descent and rolling roads carry you back to the coast and home to Calpe. One of the finest days you can have on a bike in Spain.