Magic, pedaling, and big surprises at the inaugural Alberto Contador Cycling Camp
17 young riders of varying ages and skill levels united by a shared passion: a look back at their total immersion experience.
Some moments are seared into our memories forever. For the young riders who took part in this first Alberto Contador Cycling Camp, the week that has just passed will undoubtedly be one of those moments.
Day-to-day life at the Cycling Camp
To give you an idea of what the riders’ immersion experience was like, we designed a schedule that balanced the physical demands of cycling with moments of downtime, fun, and technical learning.
Conquering the routes of the Madrid mountains
Each day began with a hearty breakfast to fuel up before tackling the main event. From 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the roads of the Madrid mountains served as our training ground.
We kicked things off by exploring the “Sierra Pobre” area and summiting the challenging Alto de la Puebla and Alto de la Hiruela, as well as the climb up Navafría. We also headed to the Sierra de Guadarrama to ascend the legendary Canencia pass. We capped it all off by summiting Cotos, completing our final major route.
The camp was also a space for comprehensive learning; the riders enjoyed hands-on workshops covering mechanics and road cycling techniques.
Cycling for everyone
For beginners and younger riders, we designed shorter, less demanding routes. This allowed us to boost their confidence and equip them with new skills tailored to their pace.
Creating lifelong memories
The camp wouldn’t have been the same without those moments when the bikes were put away and it was time to simply enjoy being a team:
Right after arriving on Sunday, we broke the ice with evening group games. We held a competitive table tennis tournament that sparked plenty of laughter.
We took advantage of the days to stretch our legs and explore the area. We went on a hike through the village and enjoyed an evening walk to Puentes Viejas.
To top it all off, we welcomed distinguished guests: Alberto Contador, Diego Sevilla from Team Polti VisitMalta, and Raúl Vallinot, an ambassador for Idemticos.
Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible!
This first edition has come to an end, but it has left an indelible mark. We want to look back and thank everyone who made this dream a reality:
First, we want to express our gratitude to the families for their trust; without them, we could not have held this camp. Thank you for letting us be part of your children’s journey—they were the true driving force behind this week.
A huge thank you to our Xport Xperience team, and especially to Rubén and Javi Cebolla, who were on the front lines the entire time, attending to every detail and ensuring the kids had a perfect experience.
And, of course, to our long-standing partners, who consistently demonstrate their genuine commitment to grassroots sports:
To Gobik, for outfitting our 17 cyclists with the camp’s official jersey, which they wore while riding through the mountains.
To 226ers, for providing the official fuel that ensured the energy, hydration, and strength the kids needed to conquer every mountain pass with a smile.
To OK Mobility, for the gifts for the kids and for providing a fantastic grand finale to the camp with a raffle for four passes to PortAventura.
Thank you for riding alongside us.
