leahinsc

Any fodorite visited Spain specifically to watch the Vuelta de Espana? If so, what were your experiences/feedback. We're thinking of going this fall to Spain to coincide w/ the Vuelta and try and see a couple of stages.

cruiseluv

What is the Vuelta de España???

Just curious, never heard about this

Robert2533

Vuelta de España is the professional bicycle race (think Tour de France), which takes place in Spain during August and September in 2006.

leahinsc

correcto Roberto....yes, we are thinking about trying to see a couple of the stages...Burgos, Santiallana del Mar, Granada...and perhaps making Madrid our hub.

Robert2533

For the Burgos, Santillana del Mar stages, you might want to consider staying in or around Bilbao to cover both areas. There is a great Casa Rural in Lezama (CR Iruatirz), in the center of the Swiss Alps of the Basque Country. Bilbao is only thirty minutes to the north and the Rioja less than thirty minutes south. For the Granada portion, you can stay in Jaén or even Úbeda (Paradors) and enjoy the countryside.

NEDSIRELAND

Robert2533 writes: <<For the Burgos, Santillana del Mar stages, you might want to consider staying in or around Bilbao to cover both areas. ...>>

I have watched a stage of the Vuelta de España in Cantabria and I disagree with Robert2533. I was staying with a family near Torrelavega (Cantabria). Bilbao is kind of out of the way for the Bicycle race (although I don't have anything against Bilbao). Burgos is much more than 60-min south from Bilbao. Continental-Auto takes about 4-hours (nonstop) for that stretch. I'm not sure what their route will be in 2006, but near Torrelavega may be a good spot to cheer them on as they come by.

Robert2533

Torrelavega would be a great place to cheer them on, but I was thinking of where they would be staying during this period. Accommodations are a little sparse in the area.