Over 600 Cyclists Tackle Sierra Bermeja in Costa del Sol Gran Fondo More than 600 endurance cyclists from 15 nations took on the gruelling 127-kilometre Costa del Sol Gran Fondo from Estepona, tackling the fearsome Peñas Blancas climb. Dawn Start at the Recinto Ferial Shortly after sunrise on Saturday 3 October, the car parks and access roads around Estepona's Recinto Ferial filled with support vans, bike boxes and riders pulling on arm warmers against the morning chill. More than 600 international cyclists lined up for the 2026 edition of the Costa del Sol Gran Fondo, one of the standout dates on the region's autumn sporting calendar. Accents from Britain, Belgium, Scandinavia and across the Americas mixed with those of local club riders, a reminder of how firmly this event has planted itself on the European cyclo-sportive circuit since it first appeared on organisers' schedules. The fairgrounds, usually given over to agricultural shows and seasonal markets, took on a different character for the morning: timing mats, feed stations and mechanical support crews replacing market stalls, with a steady hum of freehubs as the bunch rolled out towards the hills behind the town. A Brutal Route Across the Genal Valley Riders faced a 127-kilometre circular course with 3,300 vertical metres of climbing packed in, a profile that organisers pitched deliberately as an early-season fitness test rather than a gentle coastal spin. From Estepona the route turned inland almost immediately, climbing through Casares before pushing on to Gaucín and into the Serranía de Ronda, an area better known among hikers and birdwatchers than among the sportive crowd. From there the course threaded the Genal Valley, a corner of the province still largely free of large-scale tourism, taking in the white villages of Cortes de la Frontera, Jimera de Líbar, Benadalid, Algatocín and Genalguacil. Narrow lanes, sharp gradients and little shade made for slow, honest racing rather than high average speeds, and support vehicles had to negotiate tight village streets alongside the riders. For many in the field, simply completing the loop inside the cut-off times counted as a result in itself. Conquering the Mythic Peñas Blancas Ascent The final reckoning came in the last 20 kilometres, with the climb to Peñas Blancas. The ascent carries official 'mythic' status from the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation and has hosted summit finishes during La Vuelta a España, lending it a reputation among Spanish cyclists that extends well beyond the Costa del Sol. Its volcanic red rock face averages a demanding 6.7% gradient over the full climb, with ramps kicking up to 15% on the switchbacks nearer the top. With the sun well up by the time most riders hit the lower slopes, the exposed hairpins turned into a genuine test of pacing and hydration strategy rather than pure power. Those who held something back were rewarded at the summit with clear views across the Strait of Gibraltar towards the North African coast, before a fast, technical descent delivered them back towards sea level and the finish. Growing Appeal of Coastal Sports Tourism Beyond the results sheet, the event's wider value to Estepona lies in timing. Local sports authorities pointed out that fields of this size, drawn largely from overseas, fill hotel rooms, bike-hire outlets and restaurant tables well after the peak summer package-holiday season has wound down. Travelling clubs from the UK and Scandinavia, in particular, tend to build short breaks around the race, extending stays either side of the event and spending in towns along the route rather than only in Estepona itself. The presence of ambassadors such as European mountain bike medallist Natalia Fischer has helped raise the Gran Fondo's profile among serious amateur riders deciding where to base an autumn training block, and organisers will be hoping the 2026 edition builds further on that reputation heading into future years. For residents and second-home owners along this stretch of coast, events of this scale also serve as a practical reminder of what's on the doorstep: closed mountain roads for a morning, yes, but also direct access to some of Andalusia's more demanding and scenic cycling terrain within a short drive of the coast. For active expatriates weighing up where to settle near that kind of access, alongside the established beach and marina lifestyle, developments represented by Marbella New Homes offer bases within easy reach of both the coast road and the climbs into the Sierra Bermeja and Genal Valley.