Coll de Rates decides the day
Gran Fondo Alberto Contador opens flat along the Valencian coast before climbing into the Costa Blanca's interior — mountain passes through the Marina Alta, timed at the Coll de Rates and cresting at Sa Creueta, then a limestone descent through the Vall d'Ebo back to the coast. The demand is sustained climbing power and pacing discipline on the timed sections.
For the rider with only six weeks left and five to nine hours a week, this rescue plan keeps the work most likely to matter on the Costa Blanca's climbing course: climbing power for the Marina Alta's mountain passes and pacing discipline for the timed Coll de Rates section, recovery, and pacing. It makes purposeful use of current fitness without claiming to replace lost months.
INSIDE THE SAVE MY RACE PLAN — 5–9 HR/WK
Includes zone-tailored structured rides for your devices, built-in strength with video walkthroughs, heat-training protocols for racing in the hot stuff, peloton skills workouts, and nutrition and hydration guidance.
The Complete TotalEnergies Gran Fondo Alberto Contador Guide — the training, the tactics, the gear and race day, explained simply and clearly: what to do, when to do it, and why it works.
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Hey, I'm Matti. I spent 11 years at TrainingPeaks, where they trusted me to teach coaches how to coach at TrainingPeaks University. I raced Amateur Elite with Rio Grande Cycling Team and podiumed my age group at Unbound 200 in 2026. I have a degree in biology and exercise physiology from St. Olaf. I'm also a middle-aged dad of three, so I know training doesn't happen in a vacuum. I help gravel riders get stupidly fast without becoming the person who brings a food scale to a party