Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València.
The 177 km route of the Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València is the long loop: from the marina in the port of Valencia up into the Serra Calderona and back to the sea, with around 2,000 metres of climbing over four named passes. Its heart is the Alto de Segart at kilometre 72 – 3.2 kilometres averaging 9.7 per cent, steep enough that the organiser publishes gearing advice for it.
Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at the Marina de València in the port, right beside Veles e Vents. The first fifty kilometres are flat: more than half the route sits in the level gradient band, and the course uses the Valencian coastal plain to keep the field together in big groups.
The climbing starts at kilometre 48. After two short ramps comes a two-kilometre climb at six per cent at kilometre 50, and at 72.45 the real test: 3.2 kilometres averaging 9.7 per cent up to the Alto de Segart at 589 metres. The organiser explicitly recommends small gearing for it – a 30 sprocket with a 36 inner ring for regular riders, 34/34 for everyone else. The Puerto de l'Oronet and the Puerto de Chirivilla follow, the latter at 711 metres the high point of the loop; the long climb from kilometre 114 runs 3.75 kilometres at 6.4 per cent.
The marcha is explicitly not a race: it runs under the RFEC's 'Reglamento de ciclismo para todos', which excludes competition by definition, on roads closed to other traffic and escorted by the Guardia Civil, Protección Civil and local police. The Gran Fondo València has more than twenty editions behind it.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 48.3 | 0.9 km | 5 % | 9.3 % | +46 m | — |
| km 50.1 | 2.1 km | 6 % | 22.9 % | +125 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 70.4 | 1.7 km | 5 % | 10.1 % | +87 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 72.5 | 3.2 km | 9.7 % | 34.1 % | +310 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 76.8 | 1.1 km | 5.2 % | 9.7 % | +56 m | — |
| km 109 | 1.3 km | 4 % | 11.5 % | +51 m | — |
| km 111.6 | 1.1 km | 8.2 % | 22.9 % | +91 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 114.3 | 3.8 km | 6.4 % | 21.8 % | +240 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València.
Sit in early
The route splits into two very unequal halves, and that dictates the pacing. The first 48 kilometres are flat and ridden in big groups; you gain nothing by working on the front here, but you can lose a great deal. Sit sheltered, eat and drink early, and arrive at the foot of the climbs with full stores.
Ration your effort
The loop is decided on the Alto de Segart at kilometre 72.45. Three point two kilometres at 9.7 per cent after two hours of flat riding is a harsh transition, and your gearing matters more than your form: arrive with too big a ring and you will be walking. Choose the gearing the organiser recommends before the day and ride the climb to your own power – the groups fall apart there anyway.
Race the finale
The second trap comes late. After Segart there is still Chirivilla and the 3.75-kilometre climb at 6.4 per cent from kilometre 114, ridden after more than 100 kilometres. Deliberately keep something back for it. And plan the run home: the last kilometres to the marina are flat and open, often into a sea breeze – a grim finish alone and a fast one in a group.
Training plan for Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València: 12-week build
Build endurance
Expect 6 to 8.5 hours as an age-group rider. The demand splits in two: about half the route is flat and ridden in a group in the endurance range, while the other half carries eight classified climbs, one of them at nearly ten per cent and well outside the pattern of the rest.
Train the climbs
The first training priority is long rides with the climbing placed late. Ride five-to-six-hour sessions in which the climbs only come after halfway – that is exactly the order this course sets, and fresh hill intervals at the start of a ride prepare you poorly for it.
Ride race-specific
The second priority is strength at low cadence. Segart, at 9.7 per cent for over three kilometres, demands either the right gearing or serious strength endurance; train climbs of 10 to 20 minutes at eight to ten per cent using the gearing you intend to race, so you know what cadence is realistic there.
Arrive fresh
On conditions: the Valencian coast is already warm in early May, and the flat coastal sections are open and wind-exposed. Practise fuelling over five hours, train group riding in wind, and plan for the heat – on a course whose climbing does not start for two hours, much depends on whether you drank enough before it did.
Courses
Download the Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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Everything about Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València.
How long is Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València?
Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València is 177 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València have?
Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València has around 2,003 m of elevation gain over 177 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València?
Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València is classified as Rolling, averaging 11.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 51% of the route is flat, 20% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 3% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València have?
The hardest climb of Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València starts at kilometre 72.5, runs for 3.2 km at an average of 9.7% and gains 310 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València a loop course?
Yes, Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València course?
Yes. The Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València?
Preparation for Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València should account for 177 km, 2,003 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València?
The pacing strategy for Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València should reflect 177 km, 2,003 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València take place?
Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València takes place on May 8, 2027.
Where does Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València take place?
Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València takes place in Valencia, Spain.
Which distances does Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València offer?
Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València offers 3 distances — 177 km: 177 km; 148 km: 148 km; 100 km: 100 km.
How do I register for Gran Fondo Internacional Marcha Ciudad València?
Registration runs through the organiser: marchaciudadvalencia.es. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
