Spain Solidifies Status as Global Hub for Elite Cycling Training
Professional cycling teams are increasingly relying on high-altitude training centers in Tenerife and Sierra Nevada to secure top performances in Grand Tours like the Giro d'Italia.
The recent conclusion of the Giro d’Italia has once again proven that Spain is the premier destination for the world’s elite cyclists. Data on professional team training schedules shows a clear link between success in the Italian race and time spent at high-altitude training centers in Tenerife and Sierra Nevada.
An analysis of the latest Corsa Rosa shows that all of the top nine finishers in the general classification—including Jonas Vingegaard, Felix Gall, Jai Hindley, Thymen Arensman, Derek Gee, Afonso Eulalio, Michael Storer, Davide Piganzoli, and Damiano Caruso—completed training blocks in Tenerife before the event. This trend has become so popular that some teams, such as Pinarello Q.36, have had to look elsewhere due to a lack of available accommodation on the islands, highlighting just how vital Spanish terrain has become for top-tier performance.
This preparation model paid off, with cyclists who trained in Tenerife winning nine of the 21 stages. Winners included Davide Ballerini, Alberto Bettiol, Alec Segaert, and Sepp Kuss, who took the nineteenth stage—a day when most of the race favorites were also fresh off training on Mount Teide.
Beyond stage wins, several athletes reached new career heights. Afonso Eulalio was the breakout star, wearing the maglia rosa for nine days and earning the title of best young rider, while Damiano Caruso was named the most combative rider. Other standout performances came from mountains classification winner Giulio Ciccone, as well as Ben O’Connor, Jasper Stuyven, Matteo Sobrero, and Christian Scaroni.
The international peloton has now shifted its focus to Sierra Nevada. The High Performance Center in Granada is currently hosting teams preparing for the upcoming Tour de France, cementing Spain’s status as the hub where Grand Tour victories are built. This long-standing trend confirms that Spanish training facilities remain an essential asset for professional teams as they look toward the challenges of 2027.