The most popular cycling event in southern Gran Canaria, the E PIC Gran Canaria , continues to add stars to its lineup for the 2025 edition on February 8th and 9th . This year's event will feature some of the sport's most iconic names, with Haimar Zubeldia confirmed for what has become a cult classic.
“The EPIC Gran Canaria is much more than a race; it’s a unique experience. I come back every year because it combines everything I love about cycling: sporting challenges, spectacular scenery, and an incredible atmosphere. What’s more, the organization always outdoes itself, and participating here feels like coming home.” Haimar Zubeldia , winner of 29 Grand Tours and a top-10 finisher in the Tour de France, returns for this year’s edition, which filled its maximum capacity of 500 places in less than 48 hours and already has hundreds of cyclists on the waiting list.
On February 8th and 9th , the best international cyclists will once again take over San Bartolomé de Tirajana and several municipalities in the midlands, showcasing Gran Canaria as a prime destination for the sport. Zubeldia not only keeps his annual appointment with the EPIC, but he also knows firsthand the advantages of Gran Canaria as a cycling paradise for training and competition. “Gran Canaria is, without a doubt, one of my favorite destinations. It’s an ideal place to train, especially in winter, thanks to its perfect climate and its diverse routes.” He has spent several seasons on the island “and each time I discover something new; it has something magical that always makes me want to return.”
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This race, part of the UCI international calendar and the Gran Fondo World Tour circuit, opens the season in Europe with an enviable climate, while in other parts of the continent the weather is freezing. “In Gran Canaria you have sunshine, pleasant temperatures and roads in perfect condition. I took advantage of the opportunity to do many of the climbs that are part of the EPIC, such as Ayacata, and prepare myself mentally and physically for this edition,” said the cyclist from Usurbil.
Zubeldia knows and loves this route, which he has described as “demanding but very rewarding” thanks to its “long and challenging climbs, but with views and surroundings that make them more bearable.” Each stage, he said, “has something special, from the time trials to the technical descents, it is an unforgettable experience.”
Haimar Zubeldia, a representative of the golden age of cycling in the late 90s and 2000s, says that the EPIC Gran Canaria is “a physical and mental challenge” that he attends “without pressure”, which allows him to “connect with the sport that I love, surrounded by other cyclists who share the same passion”.
Every year “it grows in participants, level of organisation and international recognition”, which is why he has confessed to being proud of “being part of that growth”. Zubeldia will not make it easy for his rivals, although his priority will be “to enjoy every kilometre to the fullest, gain good memories, share moments with other cyclists and continue adding experiences on this island that means so much to me”. Each edition of the EPIC “is unique, and this one will not be the exception”.
Zubeldia forged a great career as a track and cyclocross rider, with several medals since his professional debut in 1998. With the Euskaltel-Euskadi and Astana teams, his palmarès includes Grand Tours , finishing tenth in the 2000 Vuelta a España , eleventh in the same race in 2002, and fifth in the 2003 Tour de France . He achieved two third places, two fourths and a fifth in different stages that year, and continued to accumulate great races for another 10 years.
The climb to Ayacata, the “favorite”
“Without a doubt, the climb to Ayacata is my favourite.” Haimar Zubeldia’s favourite climb is one of the routes that make this an unforgettable test. “It is hard, but the views and the feeling of reaching the top make it worth it.” Meanwhile, “the technical descents require a lot of concentration, they are part of the charm of the test.”
The first stage of the EPIC Gran Canaria, on February 8, 2025 , will cover 115 kilometers and feature two timed sections. Starting from the Maspalomas Dunes viewpoint at the RIU Palace Maspalomas hotel, the route will pass through Arteara, Fataga, Tirajana, El Pajar, and Pasito Blanco. The first timed section runs from Aqualand to Ayagaures, finishing at the summit of Pedro González. This 12,3-kilometer climb reaches an altitude of 470 meters and has an average gradient of 4,4% . The second timed section of this first stage is a 45-kilometer climb between Pasito Blanco and Ayacata, reaching an altitude of 1.304 meters and an average gradient of 4,7%.
The second stage, on Sunday, February 9 , determines the podium in a 75-kilometer route , with a timed section with an elevation gain of 810 meters and gradients of 4%.
