Why this ride
240 km from Beniatjar to Beniatjar, about 3 h 57 of riding. The stops in between: Abric del Gegant, La Sarga- Abric I, Tabla de Pochico and back through La Sarga- Abric I. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Penya de Benicadell and Tabla de Pochico
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 240 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 57
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Penya de Benicadell
From almost anywhere in the southern half of Valencia province you can see it: a long, jagged ridge of grey limestone with a sharp tooth at its eastern end, standing on the skyline like a broken saw. The Benicadell, at 1,104 metres, separates the Vall d'Albaida to the north from the Comtat to the south, and the sharp summit, the Penya, is the mountain's signature. At its foot lie the villages of Beniarrés, Ràfol de Salem and Otos.
Read the complete Penya de Benicadell write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Penya de Benicadell is where the day begins. Next is Abric del Gegant.
2. Abric del Gegant
Ontinyent is the kind of Valencian town that does not bother selling itself to tourists, which is part of its charm. It grew rich on textiles, and the old quarter of La Vila, perched above the gorge of the Clariano river, still has a fine bell tower that is among the tallest in the region. The Abric del Gegant, a rock shelter recorded among the prehistoric painted sites of eastern Spain, sits in the hills just outside town towards Bocairent, where the valley narrows and the Serra de Mariola begins to rise.
Read the complete Abric del Gegant write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Abric del Gegant comes up about 31 km into the recorded legs. Next is La Sarga- Abric I.
3. La Sarga- Abric I
Alcoy, or Alcoi in Valencian, is a city of bridges, built where three rivers meet in deep ravines, in the mountains of northern Alicante. It was one of the cradles of Spain's industrial revolution, with textile and paper mills powered by its rivers, and its streets have fine modernist buildings from that era. It is also famous for its Moors and Christians festival in April, one of the most spectacular in Spain, with parades, music and mock battles in honour of Saint George. The rock shelters of La Sarga lie in the hills about eight kilometres from the city, toward Ibi.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 73 km into the recorded legs you reach La Sarga- Abric I. Next is Tabla de Pochico.
4. Tabla de Pochico
Villajoyosa, the Vila, is one of those towns that makes a bad first impression only on the way in. The approach is lined with apartment blocks, but the old seafront is a long row of houses painted in bright colours, ochre, pink, blue and green, said to have helped fishermen find their own door from the sea. Behind the harbour the church stands fortress-like, built with walls designed to withstand pirate raids, and the whole place smells faintly of the sea and, oddly, of chocolate, because the town is home to one of Spain's best known chocolate makers, founded in the nineteenth century. The Tabla de Pochico lies in the hills a few kilometres inland, in the scrubby, rocky land that rises behind the coast.
Read the complete Tabla de Pochico write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Tabla de Pochico, about halfway. Next is back through La Sarga- Abric I.
5. back through La Sarga- Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through La Sarga- Abric I sits at 113 km, about halfway. Next is back through Abric del Gegant.
6. back through Abric del Gegant
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Abric del Gegant write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Abric del Gegant comes up about 210 km into the recorded legs. Next is Penya de Benicadell.
7. Penya de Benicadell
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Penya de Benicadell write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Penya de Benicadell closes the day.
Leg by leg
Penya de Benicadell to Abric del Gegant
Penya de Benicadell → Abric del Gegant is 31 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Abric del Gegant to La Sarga- Abric I
Abric del Gegant → La Sarga- Abric I is 42 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
La Sarga- Abric I to Tabla de Pochico
La Sarga- Abric I → Tabla de Pochico is 47 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Tabla de Pochico to back through La Sarga- Abric I
Tabla de Pochico → back through La Sarga- Abric I is 48 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through La Sarga- Abric I to back through Abric del Gegant
back through La Sarga- Abric I → back through Abric del Gegant is 42 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Abric del Gegant to Penya de Benicadell
back through Abric del Gegant → Penya de Benicadell is 30 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.