Live for the entire planet
The fourth edition of the EPIC Gran Canaria Riu Hotels & Resorts is finalizing details for its celebration on October 16th and 17th in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, alongside leading figures in international cycling. This new 2021 edition can be followed live from home along its entire route, with a high-quality broadcast via social media streaming that will bring the event to screens around the world thanks to mobile devices.
Live and broadcast from every corner of the globe, this edition comes with several new features, including a change of date from its traditional start of the year to October to better align with health conditions, as well as some surprises. The island's most popular cycling event will feature the Director of Unipublic and the Vuelta a España, Francisco Javier Guillén Bedoya, and cyclist Mario Cipollini as special guests.
This edition also features a new timed section passing through Pasito Blanco , a change to the route of the first stage to add quality to one of the most popular cycling routes on the island of Gran Canaria.
Previous day: October 15
In 2021, the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts returns with its commitment to being more than just a sporting event, expanding its program with an opening day dedicated to cycling, featuring international professional stars of the sport. Javier Gullén will share the stage with Mario Cipollini , kicking off the event on Friday, October 15th, with a day of discussions about cycling , sport, and successful professional careers.
This series of sports conferences complements the flagship event in southern Gran Canaria and enhances the program, bringing together cycling enthusiasts in Gran Canaria to meet and talk with international stars. Experience , career paths, advice and anecdotes for amateurs and professionals in a day designed to whet the appetite for one of the most important cyclotourism events in the Canary Islands.
First stage: October 16
The first stage, consisting of 115 kilometers and two timed sections, will be held on October 16.
Starting at 8:30 a.m. from the Maspalomas Dunes viewpoint at the RIU Palace Maspalomas, the competition's flagship event will take cyclists along one of the island's most popular routes. The course, beginning at the foot of the Maspalomas Dunes, passes through Arteara, Fataga, Tirajana, and El Pajar before reaching Pasito Blanco. This stage features its first timed section from Aqualand to Ayagaures, finishing at the summit of Pedro González in a 12,3-kilometer time trial at an altitude of 470 meters . Cyclists will face a 460-meter elevation gain and an average gradient of 4,4%, with a cut-off time of 50 minutes.
This stage introduces a new feature in this fourth edition. The second time trial will start from Pasito Blanco and climb to Ayacata, a challenging 45-kilometer ascent to 1.304 meters in altitude, with a vertical gain of 1.038 meters. The most demanding section, with an average gradient of 4,7%, will test the endurance, effort, and strength of the fastest riders. This time trial will pass through El Pajar, Cercados de Espino, Soria, Barranquillo Andrés, the Las Niñas dam, and culminate at the summit of Ayacata. This second stage has a cut-off time of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Second stage: October 17
The second stage, taking place on October 17th, will feature a single timed section. Fast and dynamic, the second stage covers 75 kilometers , including a 22-kilometer uphill time trial. This crucial climb, key to securing the podium, will give the fastest riders the opportunity to give their all and claim the title.
Starting from the RIU Palace Maspalomas hotel, participants will head towards the competitive stage from the Mirador viewpoint, following a route through Fataga to Tirajana , reaching an altitude of 925 meters, with an elevation gain of 810 meters and average gradients of 4% . After the timed section, the cyclists will begin their descent on one of the island's most popular cycling routes, exclusively for the EPIC Gran Canaria Riu Hotels & Resorts. This downhill ride passes through Santa Lucía, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral, and Bahía Feliz along the GC-65 and GC-500 roads, before reuniting at the hotel where the grand celebration of sport will begin at midday. With all necessary safety and COVID-19 prevention measures in place, this gathering will serve as a prelude to the highlight of the event: the podium ceremony.
Teamwork
The 4th EPIC Gran Canaria Riu Hotels & Resorts is sponsored by RIU Hotel & Resorts, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, the Gran Canaria Island Council with the Tourism Board and within the framework of the European Island of Sport project, AVIS Canarias, Xtravans, Coca Cola, AquaBona, La Estrella, Emicela, Sonocom, Free Motion, Phisiorelax, Esenat, Fund Grube, Aqualand, Maspalomas24h , Mas Eventos, FicGC, Provital, Urban Graphic, Top Time Eventos, Grupo 33, Club Deportivo Atlefulca and PRO Cycling Camp.
