First real cycling day:
Mijas Pueblo – Alhaurín el Grande – Coín – Guaro – Monda – Marbella.
Riding through the mountains solo has its charm – calm, almost peaceful without the pressure of keeping pace in a group.
I could stop whenever I wanted, take in the views, snap a photo or two.
According to Garmin, I hit a personal climbing record today: 1 797 meters in a single ride.
The whole route came in at 98 km.
For someone like me, that’s a lot of climbing.
The sun was out all day, only ducking behind a few scattered clouds now and then.
I could’ve done without the final stretch from Marbella to Fuengirola – but still, what a great day. 🙂
The first climb starts right at the corner of the hotel and stretches 5.5 km uphill.
By the time you reach the top, Garmin says 428 meters of elevation gained—and you’re right in the heart of Mijas Pueblo. Winter legs aren’t loving it.
With no warm-up, an average gradient close to 8% and a final stretch hitting 15%, it’s a rude awakening. Not having anything easier than a 34-28 gear combo adds to the sting, but it works.
The road up is two lanes wide and, this time of year, pleasantly quiet. Drivers are patient and give space – everyone’s respectful.
This is where the cycling really begins. Even in the off-season, there are quite a few of us out here.
At the roundabout in Mijas, you make your choice—every road from here goes uphill, except the one back home.
Today’s route takes me toward Coín via Alhaurín el Grande. The view as I roll along the mountainside is breathtaking. I decide to risk a quick stop for a photo… In Alhaurín el Grande, I get my first real downhill. It’s steep, right in the middle of the village, with lots of cars and a rough road…
The brakes are definitely working hard.
Heading toward Coín, the road remains quiet, and the drivers are still courteous. I’m starting to realize I know my map pretty well – road signs are spot on.
The GPS is only really needed in the villages – and even that’s pushing it.
Coín is a bit bigger, and I briefly consider stopping for coffee, but with only 25 km behind me, I decide to push on.
Next up: Guaro.
A few kilometers of easier climbing after Coín. I turn left toward the town center to find that coffee. Just a few hundred meters in, I find a little bodega. I stop, and before I know it, someone speaks to me in Swedish…
Yeah, it’s hard to miss where I’m from in the HCK kit. A group of folks from Kungälv are sitting there in the small mountain village.
They thought I was crazy, of course, and even offered me a ride back! But they were all very friendly.
The coffee was excellent and only 1€—and that included free WiFi. 😉 So, if you ever pass through Guaro, take a left at the roundabout and head to the bodega.
Shortly after Guaro, I stop for a quick photo…
Then it’s more climbing, winding up toward Monda.
Somewhere here, I make a wrong turn, heading toward Ojén/Marbella, riding on the wrong side of the mountain. That route was actually on my plan – but for another day. Good thing I went over the map so thoroughly, I still know exactly where I am.
I realize my mistake when I see the sign for Refugio de Juanar. The serpentine road leads as close to the top of the mountain as you can get on a road bike. That’s also part of the route I had planned for another time.
I make a quick decision – I’m riding it today. 7.5 km, average 5%, that works. This ride is actually a little shorter since I went the wrong way.
After 1 km, common sense kicks in. I’m out of water and almost out of food. I’m nearly at the descent and the final flat stretch of the ride.
I turn back…
and begin the descent toward Marbella.
Note to self: Most of the road is shaded by the mountain, so I should’ve pulled up my sleeves and zipped up my vest – it’s cold!
A couple of kilometers in, I find a viewpoint, stop, layer up, and take a bunch of photos…
I’m now about 425 meters above sea level. Traffic has picked up here – it’s clear Marbella is getting closer. But still, everyone’s being very considerate.
In the last 4 kilometers downhill, the sun finally reaches my side of the road, and it’s pure enjoyment.
Once I reach Marbella, I briefly think about stopping for a bite to eat, but decide to press on and do the last 40 flat kilometers to Fuengirola.
Big mistake. The last 40 km turn into a nightmare.
I’ve ended up riding on what’s not quite a highway, but it’s treated like one. The traffic is unforgiving.
I ask around and look for alternate routes, but it’s either the A7 or the AP-7/E15. The latter is out of the question – it actually is a highway.
For 40 km, it’s a slow ride on a narrow, gravelly shoulder, tightly hugging the guardrail. Alternating between riding on the shoulder and the rough lines of the road, 100% concentration is required. A wobble could mean disaster. No one slows down or moves over, even when the left lane is wide open.
Just a few kilometers before Fuengirola, I hit the wall – mentally and physically. Breakfast was over 8 hours ago, and since then, it’s just been coffee and a few energy bars with way too little fuel. I’ve forgotten some of the food I should have packed…
A quick stop at a gas station, a few deep breaths to lower the stress. A chocolate bar.
I finish the last stretch into Fuengirola and roll along the promenade back to the hotel…
