Cycling fans received good news this Wednesday. The Public Works area of the Cabildo de Lanzarote has announced a project to signpost nine mountain bike routes. Each of the seven municipalities will have its own route that will run, mainly along roads and paths, through the most emblematic places in each area. In addition, another route will be developed through the island of La Graciosa and a ninth that will surround the perimeter of Lanzarote.
"This project includes the demand for established and controlled routes," explained Fabián Martín, Minister of Public Works. Furthermore, this signposting aims to channel cyclists, avoiding passage through protected areas. Finally, these nine routes represent an important tourist attraction as well as a promotion for the emergence of companies related to the sector.
Although there is no specific date for the completion of this project, Fabián Martín explained that "it will be executed in the near future" and pointed out that the 2008 budgets include an item of 80,000 euros for it.
Due to the lack of an established signposting model for mountain bikes, the French Cycling Federation, through IMBA Spain (International Mountain Bicycling Association), has freely transferred its use to the Cabildo. These are signs that incorporate two circles and a triangle next to the track number in which it is located, all inscribed on a 12-centimeter-sided plate. In addition, the geographical coordinates will be included next to it, for locations in case of accidents, as well as the kilometer point in which it is located. These data will be fixed on a 120 by 10 millimeter corten steel pole on a concrete base.
The colors of the symbols will indicate the length of the route (red in the case of long tracks lasting more than one hour, and yellow for shorter routes) as well as its passage through protected areas (brown, which will also include an anagram with the type of protection of the space). The colors of the numbers will also have a meaning: the difficulty of the routes, with green being the easiest, blue being easy, red being difficult and black being the most complicated.
THE ROUTES
The first seven routes run through each of the municipalities of Lanzarote, passing through the most visited or emblematic places in each of the areas. The first of them takes place in Arrecife, starting at El Cable. It has a length of 17.70 kilometers and a difficulty rated as "easy". 20 percent of the route runs on asphalt pavement and 80 percent on dirt.
The second runs through the municipality of Haría, starting from the Town Hall Square and passing through places such as Máguez, Guinate, the Corona Volcano, Tabayesco, the Mala dam or the Rincón de la Paja. Only five percent of the 21 kilometers of the route is done by road and it is one of the most difficult routes on the Island.
The third covers the municipality of San Bartolomé. It leaves Playa Honda and passes through Güime, the Casa Mayor Guerra, El Islote and Montaña Blanca. It is a "difficult" route with a length of 29 kilometers.
The fourth route starts from Las Caletas and goes to Tahíche. It crosses the towns of Nazaret and Teguise, going up through Los Valles to the Ermita de las Nieves. The established difficulty is "difficult" and it is one of the longest with 37 kilometers.
The Tías route starts in Puerto del Carmen, as it is one of the main tourist centers of the Island. It crosses areas such as La Geria, Mácher or Montaña Blanca. It is "difficult" and measures 25 kilometers.
In Tinajo, the route starts from La Santa, where a large number of athletes and cycling fans are concentrated. It runs through El Cuchillo, Los Dolores, the Tinguatón Volcano, the Camino de las Malvas and even reaches Timanfaya, where it runs by road as it is protected territory. Even so, 75 percent of the route takes place on dirt roads. It is an "easy" route with a length of 29 kilometers.
The last route of the municipalities is that of Yaiza, which reaches Los Ajaches, where the signposted routes are used and where cyclists will have the opportunity to stop at its beaches. It is a "difficult" journey of 30 kilometers.
In addition to these routes, La Graciosa will have its own route, taking into account the number of tourists who visit the eighth island and travel it by bicycle. Starting from Caleta de Sebo, the journey will reach Los Aljibes, Playa de las Conchas and the town of Pedro Barba. It is an "easy" route that a trained person can complete in less than an hour.
Finally, the Cabildo will signpost a route that will surround the island of Lanzarote. To trace the route, the help of the Island's cycling clubs and many fans has been counted on. The itinerary is divided into sections and passes through all the Tourist Centers of Lanzarote except the Farmer's Monument. In total, there are 210 kilometers that run on dirt pavement in 75 percent.
I TOUR OF LANZAROTE BY MOUNTAIN BIKE
The Councilor for Youth and Sports of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Manuel Cabrera, has taken the opportunity to present this Wednesday the 1st Tour of Lanzarote by Mountain Bike. It will take place on May 3 from ten in the morning and will depart from the Arrecife fairgrounds. In total, 102 kilometers will be covered passing through El Cable, Argana, Tahíche, Guatiza, Las Nieves, Teguise, Muñique, Tinajo, Las Malvas, Timanfaya, Uga, La Asomada, La Candelaria and Playa Honda.
Registration can be done until April 30 on the website of the Terravolcán Club, organizer of the event. Those federated have a fee of 20 euros, while those not federated will have to pay 30 euros.
This 1st Tour of Lanzarote by Mountain Bike is a tribute to Francisco Blanco, a cyclist from the Terravolcán Club who died on May 3, 2007 while practicing mountain biking.
ACN Press