Cycling in Benidorm: bike hire, routes and the rules
Facts checked 15 October 2026 against the sources at the foot of this page.
Short answer
Benidorm is a good base for road cycling from October to April. Within a morning's ride you have the Costa Blanca climbs that WorldTour teams train on every winter: Guadalest, Coll de Rates and the Port de Tudons. In January 2026 nine of the eighteen men's WorldTeams were based between Benidorm and Dénia. For a gentle day, e-bikes cost from €15 at TaoBike on Avenida Mediterráneo; carbon road bikes are hired from specialists from about €35 a day, delivered to your hotel. One change to know: since 1 October 2026 every cyclist must wear a helmet outside towns, and drivers must slow by 20 km/h to pass you.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best months | October–April (mild, dry, light traffic) |
| E-bike / city bike hire | From €15 (TaoBike, 2026); e-MTB from €35 |
| Carbon road bike hire | From €35/day (DP Cycling, delivers around Benidorm and Calpe) |
| Half-day hire | About 4 hours; late return €12/hour (TaoBike) |
| Bike lanes in town | About 120 km, per Visit Benidorm |
| Signature climb | Coll de Rates from Parcent: ~6.5 km at 5.2–5.4%, ~340 m |
| Helmet | Compulsory for all cyclists on interurban roads from 1 Oct 2026; €200 fine |
| Passing distance | 1.5 m, and drivers must cut speed by at least 20 km/h |
| Pro races here | Vuelta and Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stages; UCI cyclo-cross World Cup (Jan) |
Bike hire in Benidorm: prices for 2026
| Type | Who | Price (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-bike (custom, folding) | TaoBike, Av. Mediterráneo 62 | From €15 | Free accessory with online booking; lock included |
| City / touring bike | TaoBike | From €15 | |
| Mountain bike (Giant) | TaoBike | From €15 | |
| E-MTB | TaoBike | From €35 | Guided MTB routes in Serra Gelada also offered |
| Electric sidecar bike | TaoBike | From €20 | Out of stock at time of checking |
| Carbon road / e-road | DP Cycling (ex-pro Patrick Deneut) | From €35/day | Delivery to accommodation |
| Delivery | TaoBike | €0.50/km, minimum €10 per trip |
Prices are "from" rates that rise with hire length. TaoBike's half day is about 4 hours, and it charges €12 for each hour you're late. Bring your own pedals and saddle-height notes if you're hiring a road bike; most firms fit pedals on request.
Road routes from Benidorm
Guadalest (CV-70). The classic first ride. Head inland through Polop and up towards Benimantell and Guadalest. The climb from Polop to Benimantell is 8.3 km at 5.3% (444 m), and there's a cycle lane alongside the CV-70 for much of the way. Have a coffee in Guadalest, then come back the same way or drop to Callosa d'en Sarrià. See our Guadalest guide. Coll de Rates. The most famous climb on the coast and a team favourite: about 6.5 km at an average of 5.2–5.4% from Parcent, gaining around 340 m. It's steady rather than brutal. From Benidorm it's a long day via Callosa and Tàrbena or along the coast through Altea and Calpe; plan for a full morning each way. Port de Tudons. The quiet giant. About 17 km at an average of 4.5%, gentle low down and steeper near the top, through empty mountain country above Sella and Relleu. Take food and water: there's very little up there, and it gets cold in winter. Coast road to Altea and Calpe. Flat-ish and pretty but busy. The N-332 has fast traffic; ride early on weekdays.
Pro teams' winter camps: true or myth?
True. In January 2026 the cycling news site Cyclingflash reported that nine of the eighteen WorldTeams were staying on this stretch of coast and just inland. Decathlon CMA CGM were in Benidorm itself; Lotto-Intermarché in l'Albir; Visma | Lease a Bike in La Nucía; Soudal Quick-Step and Picnic PostNL were in Calpe; Bahrain Victorious and XDS Astana in Altea; Jayco AlUla and Lidl-Trek in Dénia. Velo reported in January 2024 that UAE Team Emirates stayed at La Nucía, just inland from Benidorm. Camps usually run in December and January. If you ride the Coll de Rates or Guadalest on a weekday then, you'll very likely see a team pass. Be polite, don't draft, and don't stop in the road for photos.
Spanish road rules for cyclists (from 1 October 2026)
Spain's updated traffic regulations came into force on 1 October 2026. What matters for visitors: - Helmet: all cyclists must wear one on interurban roads (outside towns). The old exemptions — such as on long climbs or in high heat — have gone. Not wearing one is a serious offence with a €200 fine. - Overtaking outside towns: drivers must leave at least 1.5 m, slow down by at least 20 km/h below the limit, and on roads with more than one lane each way move fully into the next lane. - In towns: cyclists should ride in the centre of the lane, and motor vehicles must keep at least 5 m behind a cyclist in the same lane. Check that your travel insurance covers cycling and third-party liability; see travel insurance and health.
Watch out for
- Since 1 October 2026 there's no helmet exemption on climbs — the €200 fine applies.
- The N-332 coast road is fast and busy; avoid it at peak times.
- Winter mornings in the hills can be 5–8°C even when Benidorm is 18°C; take a gilet.
- Tudons and Coll de Rates have long stretches with no shop or water.
- January 2017 saw six Giant-Alpecin riders hit head-on near Dénia; drivers here are used to cyclists, but not all of them are careful.
- Fire-risk closures in summer can shut forest tracks to bikes as well as walkers.
Questions people ask
Do pro cycling teams train in Benidorm?
Yes. In January 2026 Decathlon CMA CGM were based in Benidorm, and eight more WorldTeams were in l'Albir, Altea, Calpe, Dénia and La Nucía. UAE Team Emirates has used La Nucía. December and January are the busiest months.
How much is bike hire in Benidorm?
In 2026 TaoBike hires e-bikes, city bikes and mountain bikes from €15 and e-MTBs from €35. Carbon road bikes from specialist firms start at about €35 a day, often with hotel delivery.
Is it compulsory to wear a cycle helmet in Spain?
Since 1 October 2026, yes on all interurban roads, with no exceptions for climbs or heat. The fine is €200. In town it isn't compulsory for adults, but it's sensible; under-16s must wear one everywhere.
How long is the Coll de Rates climb?
From Parcent it's about 6.5 km at an average gradient of 5.2–5.4%, climbing around 340 m. It's steady rather than steep, which is why teams use it for efforts. From Benidorm, allow a full day for the round trip.
Can I ride from Benidorm to Guadalest?
Yes. Take the CV-70 inland through Polop. The climb from Polop to Benimantell is 8.3 km at 5.3%, and a cycle lane runs beside much of the road. It's the best first ride of a trip.
Are there cycle lanes in Benidorm?
Yes. Visit Benidorm says the town has about 120 km of bike lanes. The seafront promenades are shared with walkers, so ride slowly there.
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Sources
- Visit Benidorm — Cycling tourism — 120 km of bike lanes, Vuelta/Volta stages, CX World Cup 18 Jan 2026 — checked 2026-10-15
- TaoBike — Reserva — 2026 "from" prices, half-day, late fee, delivery — checked 2026-10-15
- DP Cycling — carbon road and e-road from €35/day — checked 2026-10-15
- DGT — Interior actualiza el Reglamento General de Circulación — helmet, 1.5 m, −20 km/h, 5 m in town, in force 1 Oct 2026 — checked 2026-10-15
- Cyclingflash — WorldTeams training camp setups (8 Jan 2026) — 9 of 18 teams on Costa Blanca, team locations incl. Albir and La Nucía — checked 2026-10-15
- Velo — Winter's hotspot (3 Jan 2024) — UAE at La Nucía — checked 2026-10-15
- Velo — Spain top choice for camps (2017) — Giant-Alpecin crash near Dénia — checked 2026-10-15
- CyclingRoutes — Coll de Rates — 6.45 km, 5.4%, 347 m — checked 2026-10-15
- RideUp — Coll de Rates — 6.5 km, 5.2%, 340 m — checked 2026-10-15
- Epic Road Rides — Puerto de Tudons — ~17 km at 4.5% — checked 2026-10-15
- Cycle Fiesta — Benimantell climb — 8.3 km, 5.3%, 444 m; cycle lane on CV-70 — checked 2026-10-15