That's a wrap!

The dilemma at the finish line BBQ

First Guanchers Roll Home

They made the Audax

The Ferry Vomiting Game

The route to Mordor

Pedaling into the first night

Preview

Omar Martinello

Federico Bassis

Niccolò Varanini

Rasmus Bozyk

Ramon Comulada Perxachs

Gregor Lah

Samuele Tonello

Pablo Osorio

Albert Guiluz

Carles Sabater Pascual

Benno Möser

Matteo Manuelli

Martin Norment

Matteo Miele

Verena Walter

Mindaugas Urbontaitis

Richard Schroeder

Niels Grote Beverborg

Jolien van Uden

Richard Delaume

Rafael Lange

Nicolas Alejandro Pesce

Jenny Tough

Allan Shaw

Johannes Santen

Vincenzo Cedro

David Marshall

Krzysztof Nowak

Maya Wolf

Mikee lonergan

Txaber San Pedro

Matthias Hausmann

Christian Huck

Bartlomiej Tytko

Matthias Mohme

Sascha Rehbock

Luis Chiang

Patrick Herron

Michele Papeschi

Teodora Vidolova

Danny Koszellni

Christian Bel

Maximilian Schilling

Enno Faßbender

Joëlle Krahlisch

Timo Rusteberg

Leo Belshof

Joey Belshof

Chris Tackaberry

Gabriel Sayer

Sven Sandmeyer

Marc Förschler

Marcel Urbanowicz

Jonas Fallenberg

Indy Neerhoff

Mihir Joshi

Nacho Bosquet

Gabriel Garcia Alpuente

Mikhail Sazhin

Norman Halard

Sara Vandelanotte

Daan Van Gijseghem

Ben Bonneure

Ronald Fethke

Dirk Mummert

Petrica Zontea

Guoda Paulikaite

Richard Lake

Javier Guerrero López

Mandron

Nicolas Honore

Burkhard Waldeck

David Noguera

Victoria Andrés Rubio

Otto Vik Mathisen

Jan Nitschke

James Brodhurst

Alvaro Perez Cruz

María Salvo El Hage

Melanie Scheffke

Daniele Maestri

Damien Ropero

Javier Noguerol

Demian Piazza

Matteo Gattoni

Steph King

Iiro Alhonen

Mark van der Vecht

Gala Giannini

Daniele Marco Calvi

Martino Basilisco

Rudi Bassi

Riccardo Ben Alì Zinati

Yan Lhert

Jacob Schneider

Mario Font Llach

Josep Rubio Vidal

Klein Guillaume

Loïc Blocquet

Piotr Bruzgielewicz

*Title pic: Petrica and Guoda on El Hierro yesterday*

With our last Guanchers finishing earlier today, it's time for a short wrap-up. The quartet of Guoda, Petrica, Dirk, and Ronald reached the finish line in Timijiraque today, a whole week after they set off, which gave them enough time to soak in the island vibes in full daylight. Just a heads-up, even if you take it easy, the route's still a beast with its 16,000 meters of climbing – don't forget about the tiredness that piles up.![IMG 6560](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/TBMjFkeOAfgNTiiNvUYlU/348e89462db012e2bba19718ae8e8c8d/IMG_6560.jpeg)
*Our Lanterne Rouge Guoda and Petrica. Congrats!* 

A total of 65 riders finished the route. Too tough this year? Well, that's super subjective – but seeing as two-thirds of the Guanchers made it through, it looks like most riders knew what they were signing up for. 
![@matminelli 7C 09883](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5n1DDHl9j9sQ6GyrT7ClXM/390a2325a98d8e61bab0af156f93c520/_matminelli_7C_09883.jpg)
*Dirk on El Hierro, the beautiful beast*

The great advantage of this event is the opportunity to share the adventure with others, as drafting is allowed and riding together is even encouraged.
Pat Herron shared this touching message with all of us: “I would like to publicly thank Luis Chiang for saving my ride from failure. I was absolutely exhausted getting the 8 pm ferry to Tenerife by minutes and had decided to not do El Hierro. But he convinced me to finish and we rode Tenerife at a snails pace and then had a recovery day which meant the final island was a pleasure. Just having someone to share the lows with makes a massive difference.” That's what it's all about – friendships and new experiences.
![IMG 6539](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3QA8ROuLdRenvYwqQ9BxBf/31b67fedef501187ac6560df44d8ba31/IMG_6539.jpeg)
*Pat (right) with Luis (middle) at the finish, alongside our podcaster Ventura (left).*

And guess what? We even had a honeymoon on the GranGuanche Gravel this year. Congratulations on finishing, and wishing you a wild and wonderful life together, Joelle and Timo!![@matminelli 7C 09474](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/jjjmL61hj5cLEIZRFxzym/a1afc7d27acd58d18b7a5e47f7cd114c/_matminelli_7C_09474.jpg)
*Joelle and Timo on their wild start into married life*

Last but not least, a reminder to listen to the daily updates from Ventura and Aday of [La Escapada](https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Flaescapadacc&e=AT0l8qkIczcZY_2nrFEbSHytd3KANb_VdiFvf1ZrVvsYA8u5fVO_IK_B1VuQ4L51MbjRQ3Uj4HvYd0z1iCU4GOspBBIgzZlqCaSN1_g) – whether to use it as a planning resource if you want to participate next year or just for entertainment on your trip back home! (For Spanish speakers)

So, what remains after 700km across the Canary Islands? In the end, it’s about how the journey transforms you and what you learn about yourself. It’s about embracing the here-and-now and the time that stretches through the night. It’s about the madness and the eccentric people you meet along the way. There’s no specific goal to achieve, the true challenge lies within oneself.

With these philosophical words I want to say goodbye! Hope you've had as much fun with the updates as I've had writing them. Thank you for following along and hasta la proxima!
![@matminelli 7C 09215x](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6LE9NL7os13JxvKLl6lIQV/4a3db528d74252e3506f9cdb1726e0a6/_matminelli_7C_09215x.jpg)
*Adios!*

*Title pic: Our first female finisher Verena*

Earlier today, we witnessed Verena Walter (cap 87), the first female finisher, rolling home after not just a long night out, but indeed 3 days and 7 hours in the wild. Congrats, Verena!

A few words from Verena: “I was fascinated by this event from the moment I heard about it. But I wasn’t sure whether I really had the confidence to do it. But my thirst for adventure won out and I simply signed up. In preparation for the event, I even had sleepless nights with excitement. So many uncertainties, so many things that could go wrong. I am all the happier that everything went perfectly!!!“ Congrats, Verena!

Do you remember Niels Grote Beverborg (cap 74)? The guy who had the bad luck of needing a new bike? Turns out, he's rolled into the finish with nothing but good things to say about his last-minute purchase. "I am in love with it right now, it went perfect!" he says. Lucky him, because we all know that feeling when you buy something in a rush and almost immediately regret it. Not this time for Niels, though!

![IMG 6527](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3kzt0UplQgsoYmOZpISl0u/1efc960ea70424829743d3024028bb97/IMG_6527.jpeg)
*Niels at the finish line singing praises for his new bike*

Things are moving fast in the event. Some riders who finished have already left El Hierro heading home, while others are still on their way to this hidden gravel gem. We're expecting about 40 Guanchers to make the ferry tonight. It's going to be interesting to see who's ready for a night ride and who's planning to drop by the finish line for the legendary BBQ. It's become quite a tradition since the first edition. 

For those who haven't finished yet and are worried about being disqualified for receiving external help by heading to the BBQ, don't fret. However, it's clear that drinking beer with the finishers might not be the best way to prepare for the 3600m ascent over the 110 km on this rugged island.

And of course, we're not leaving anyone behind – another barbecue for the second wave of GranGuanche finishers is already planned for tomorrow!

While the first finishers are busy chatting and eating all the calories they burned the last 2 days there's still plenty happening. Our Guanchers are all over the place - Gran Canaria, Tenerife, El Hierro.![Screenshot 2024-04-03 005647](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1QYeOFVBzVPPRt79y29n5y/fef580856e1b9ac2bb09e4012b74f60d/Screenshot_2024-04-03_005647.png)

Our lantern rouge Iiro Alhonen caught up with Guoda Paulikaite on the ferry. The ever-changing ferrytime table messed up Guodas plans, as the ferry left half an hour earlier than expected. Guoda got over the mix-up pretty quick, though. She made the most of her time in Morro Jable, getting some laundry done, grabbing a good meal, and even a massage – probably a first Guancher ever getting one during the event! If your plan doesn’t work out, you make a better one. That’s the spirit, Guoda!

Tonight, 23 more Guanchers rolled into El Hierro, which is usually pretty quiet and only sees this kind of bike action once a year. Among them are the first three women to get there: Verena Walter, Jenny Tough, and Jolien van Uden. Sounds like Verena's planning to ride through the night, so if she sticks to it, we might see her crossing the finish line around 5 in the morning.

A few impressions from the ferry to El Hierro. This time the sea was calm, just like our riders. ![IMG 6482](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1DUjaWCX9HNcs5gavh58aZ/24a4a1cfcd2927283f8b5f4a52b50345/IMG_6482.jpeg)

![IMG 6498](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/rDIQRwGcJPE0AdWqV667w/416b792bd1051c819c978955426f87d5/IMG_6498.jpeg)

![IMG 6487](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6Ymfhta5GMzaXn7kenT6RM/c5b6eafd2faaf710f05345e66fa087e3/IMG_6487.jpeg)

![IMG 6486](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4uf5mM60NibDMsIrOSwV2j/bcfc07628d5a4a5260a05cdd554257dc/IMG_6486.jpeg)

We will catch up with some sleep now, before it's time to welcome the next finishers around 5am. Sleep well!


Kudos to our six Audaxers: Ramon Comulada Perxachs, Niccolo Varanini, Federico Basis, Gregor Lah, Rasmus Bozyk, and Omar Martinelli made the non-stop ride from Lanzarote to Tenerife. After conquering 580 km in under two days, a night in a bed is well-deserved. However, the sleep will be short as they prepare for a 5am start tomorrow. The mandatory night stop serves as a safety precaution and a chance to appreciate El Hierro's beauty in daylight.
![Screenshot 2024-04-01 235333](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2REJoRgCTrMvtYwEN281Lx/b3363326195de55f4b8d7d775aae49fa/Screenshot_2024-04-01_235333.png)
*Niccolo on Teide*

Meanwhile in Gran Canaria: The time for creative route choices has begun. In the participants WhatsApp group Sebastian Mandron and Nicolas Honore have made our mouths water with pictures from the fish eatery in Agaete (at the end of Gran Canaria), but how did they get there so quickly? Check out their tracker data. This simply cannot be a tracking failure. 

Fish menu vs. original route - we know the winner! 
![WhatsApp Image 2024-04-01 at 15.30.08](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/57GW48J7CRAVGMZNZal0kV/ef22ea7a070ea3175138dd9d94cf1f74/WhatsApp_Image_2024-04-01_at_15.30.08.jpeg)
*Fish menu*
![IMG 6436](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3EQ5jV492cRFAfovfaoodV/e3cef979cb994ecdaa0d4329afd94c1d/IMG_6436.jpg)
*Shortcut*

And in Fuerteventura: Our Lantern Rouge is currently with Iiro Alhonen, our ice cream lover from Finland in Fuerteventura. He is making steady progress. Keep pushing, Iiro!

Good night, my dear dotwatchers. Thank you for following!

Out of a big bunch of riders reaching Gran Canaria last night, only 7 made it to the 6am morning ferry to Tenerife. Ramon Comulada Perxachs (cap 31), got to the ferry port first, around 3 am, which gave him time for a quick nap. That couple of hours of sleep is a game-changer. They've got a ferry to catch to El Hierro at 5:30 pm GMT, leaving them with 9 hours and 25 minutes to ride 170km with a beastly 4,500m climb.  That means they've got to keep rolling at about 18km/h – and that's after already pushing hard for nearly 40 hours straight. Who will make it in time? 
Right now (9am) they are on pretty close together on the first section in Tenerife.
![Screenshot 2024-04-01 100210](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6sCkIwacHt294Qzea4hYxg/7ca21b1b6fe3f285925ba68f2b67681c/Screenshot_2024-04-01_100210.png)

There is only one ferry a day, which forces them to spend a whole day in Los Christianos if they don’t make it. The idea of spending 24 h with a bunch of sunburned package tourists might make them push harder on those pedals.

The real thing this time isn't those brutal climbs or the hike-a-bikes, it's the ferries. Maya Wolf (cap 68) went through what sounded like the roughest 2 hours of her life. ![Screenshot 2024-04-01 093829](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3Le9bmqY3CfQ7u2hDGBwP1/635d8c0fa45494d22b2cc5bda8bf6a26/Screenshot_2024-04-01_093829.png) And then there's Joëlle Krahlisch (cap 53). She came back after having to drop out last year because the ferry rides messed her up. This year, she came loaded with seasickness gums and pills. Hard to say if they worked magic or not, but hey, she only used 2 bags instead of 5 like Maya did. Maybe that's a win?

Today's a new day and Joelle's already had an awesome breakfast that's hopefully given her back the energy she lost on the ferry yesterday.![WhatsApp Image 2024-04-01 at 09.22.34](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6OpKsY80ClKWLPZE1wbxoy/43c8abc796d22b673f89099ee3243564/WhatsApp_Image_2024-04-01_at_09.22.34.jpeg)
*Pizza breakfast for the win*

That's all for now, we will be back in the evening to present to you our Audaxers who made the ferry to El Hierro and share with you more stories from the road!


*Title Pic and Title by Demian Piazza (cap 16)*

"Time flies when you're having fun" is what people say, and it's true for most of our GranGuanche Gravel riders. Some others called today's route across Fuerteventura "The route to Mordor". People have different takes on it, like usual.

After one night and nearly a full day, our cyclists are scattered across two and a half islands. The front pack is on the ferry heading to Gran Canaria, while most of the group is currently in Fuerteventura.![Screenshot 2024-03-31 193932](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4491SYxWzrjO7fFAOElNpm/b74255958320c570fbdcb292359d0ea2/Screenshot_2024-03-31_193932.png)
*As of 7pm - riders all over the islands*

Like we guessed yesterday, a bunch of riders decided to crash halfway through Lanzarote and waited to ride the rest of the island in daylight. One of those riders, __Iiro Alhonen__ (cap 103) from Finland, couldn't say no to his first ice cream of the year!![WhatsApp Image 2024-03-31 at 12.29.51](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/ytQB0S0pMd6e16zFcdRLW/3085198e605bb2e2242dc85d8d29dea7/WhatsApp_Image_2024-03-31_at_12.29.51.jpeg)
Keep going Iiro, the ice cream in El Hierro is on us!

The award of the day goes to: __Txaber San Pedro__ (cap 86) for the best __quick-fix bike mechanic__. He hit a snag with his gear shifting that got so bad in Lanzarote that it completely broke down. Left with only two working gears, he still made it to the ferry. That just shows you've got to make do with what you've got, especially when bike shops are closed on Sundays. We're crossing our fingers that Txaber's fix holds up all the way to El Hierro, or else he's going to be stuck pedaling in one gear!
![WhatsApp Image 2024-03-31 at 10.44.57](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/71mjffkBldxCUHcb0z4N4J/f08bdd41d95d932ed6da8ebb6b882e6f/WhatsApp_Image_2024-03-31_at_10.44.57.jpeg)

Our lost and found is piling up fast – we've got a mobile phone, a tracker, sunglasses, and some weird tool nobody can figure out. If you know what it's for, give us a shout! I'm wondering if it's something handy for my next trip.
![WhatsApp Image 2024-03-31 at 12.39.51](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5lVhN65xQdlPVm0S1WYlVt/fc45bddd98832d30146ba10234f7970d/WhatsApp_Image_2024-03-31_at_12.39.51.jpeg)
*What is this???*

What will happen tonight? Well, for the riders who are pushing to keep up with the __Audax pace__, it's going to be a tough night. They've got a 140 km ride with a crazy 4000m climb waiting for them in Gran Canaria, and this is after they've already been pedaling for almost 24 hours. It's going to be a long night, but the adventure is all part of the fun.  A shout out goes to __Verena Walter__ (cap 86) who reached the ferry to Gran Canaria as the first woman, keep up the strong performance, see you tomorrow at 6am on the next ferry!

Unfortunately, the first day wasn't without scatches. __Mario Font Llach__ (cap 116), our only Canarian in the event, ran into some bad luck with a broken bottom bracket. It's tough to stop after less than 24 hours, but the good thing for Mario is he's got a short trip home. 

That's all from us for now, we will be back tomorrow morning. Rest or ride well!


The Ermita de Orzola, a chapel in the north of Lanzarote, undergoes a remarkable transformation three times a year, becoming the island's equivalent of Girona in terms of bikepacking.

Today, a hundred adventurous cyclists from various corners of the globe met at this very spot, to embark on a breathtaking journey. Their challenge? To navigate the island's most scenic and at times, dauntingly steep gravel roads that connect the archipelago. The air was alive with __excitement, laughter__ and a touch of __nervous anticipation__.![image1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1TapPg2oVQ4ZCNG5BnPxdG/9ef66c16c364c7e41c8a66da87321a01/image1.jpeg)

As for the __weather__, it's best summed up with '__It could be worse.__' A brisk wind cuts through the air, carrying a chill, and there's a forecast of intermittent rain until Monday. But considering the circumstances, spirits remain high—especially when last Saturday's memory of a hailstorm lingers as a reminder that conditions could indeed be much more severe.

Before the start there has been a hive of activity with last-minute shopping and planning both in Lanzarote and within the participants' WhatsApp group. Who are those daring riders pushing forward by the shiny light of their teeth? We will certainly keep an eye out for them!![IMG 6397](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7LynEPEn37XHCCWlYyzfvf/1f1076867e36745edeba9a9fd1ed3031/IMG_6397.jpg)

A shout out goes to __Niels Grote Beverborg__ (cap 74): He encountered incredibly bad luck when his bike frame got damaged on the airplane. After a long, unsuccessful search for a rental bike around Lanzarote, he had no choice but to buy a new one. Fortunately, the bike he found was not only beautiful but also the right size—a silver lining after a day filled with setbacks.![WhatsApp Image 2024-03-30 at 17.26.22](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4S6D9UfcnU8Iw24mtnCUpp/5186773a8ba35d9ddc6efd32492fbb2a/WhatsApp_Image_2024-03-30_at_17.26.22.jpeg)
*Niels broken frame*

![WhatsApp Image 2024-03-30 at 17.27.14](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5xOE9CAb9e3uBZhTCUFfS3/423aec43b87788ebc554babedff1b076/WhatsApp_Image_2024-03-30_at_17.27.14.jpeg)
*Niels new bike*

As our riders traverse the nocturnal landscape of Lanzarote, we will take a brief rest and meet them at the ferry tomorrow. I am certain that there are a few '__party pacers__' who will choose to rest midway through Lanzarote, opting to savor the island in tomorrow's daylight. It is indeed a worthwhile choice, ensuring they don't miss out on the stunning vistas. Let's remember that there is no cutoff time, as this event prioritizes the journey over the speed. For those who ride too quickly, a longer wait awaits before __the finishers' barbecue__ at El Hierro's finish line!


Hola y bienvenido to the dotwatcher coverage of the __GranGuanche Audax Gravel__, hosted by Daniela Kirchner. After riding the very first edition of the GranGuanche series, the Trail in 2021, and consequently the Gravel in 2022, I find myself drawn back to these enchanting islands. On this occasion, Ventura and I will embark on a journey alongside our intrepid Guanchers in a van to bring you the most exciting ferry hopping stories to your living room. Ventura Mendoza ([Insta](https://www.instagram.com/miurihausen)) is one but not the only host of the well-known Spanish __cycling podcast La Escapada__ ([Insta](https://www.instagram.com/laescapadacc/)). We invite our Spanish speaking audience to indulge in their daily podcast updates, broadcasted directly from the road. It is a venture I assure you will be nothing short of exhilarating.
![Vent](//downloads.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/sUuXcyUEY4N1g99ISmCFg/5988c74b79b6d64381730ac04e66da03/_matminelli_MXT51704.jpg)
*Ventura and I on our dotwatching mission on the Trail Edition*

Turning our attention away from ourselves, we hope you find the commentary over the next several days both engaging and informative. Let’s start with a __preview__ what the 100 riders can expect from their island-hopping adventure.

The adventure kicks off on __Saturday Mar 30th__ at 10PM GMT in Orzola, a small town in the north of __Lanzarote__ to cross 5 islands of the Spanish archipelago and finally reach __El Hierro__, the least known and sparsely populated island of the Canaries, offering a pristine haven for gravel riding enthusiasts. The Audax follows the well-known GranGuancheGravel route with about 700km and 16000m ascent. 

As stated by the organizers “It’s a self-supported, single-stage, fixed-route ride and follows the classic rules and principles of ultra-cycling events, but in the spirit of Audax, participants are here allowed to ride in a group and draft each other.” This particular rule fosters camaraderie, encouraging riders to share the adventure with both longstanding companions and newfound acquaintances. 

With the GranGuanche adventures already in the 3rd year, there is a lot of information out there, but nevertheless, the everchanging weather conditions on the islands can always bring a few surprises. A storm just passed the islands last week, some of the gravel roads might be washed out or worse. 
Let’s dive into the adventure island by island first and find some special highlights and challenges along the route for our Guanchers.
![@matminelli MMXT4521](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4e5mXuLa7SkghUU1UgHtYf/605ab578af51b0f926881e39c131199e/_matminelli_MMXT4521.jpg)
## Lanzarote
### 117 km, 2122m+
It is an easy island to start with. A first climb to viewpoint Mirador del Rio built by famous local architect Cesar Manrique followed by a scenic gravel road on the edge of Famara cliff. Crossing the vulcanic landscape of the Timanfaya national park left by the massive eruption of the 18th century is an extraterrestrial experience, even more at night with just a headlamp and the moon. This year we offer our Guanchers an extra detour just before arriving at the ferry port in Playa Blanca. A 30 min hike-a-bike, followed by an amazing but rocky descent, worth enjoying during the daylight. Depending on the pace, our riders might have a few hours to sleep before the first “bocadillo de tortilla” on the ferry.
![fuerte](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2PlQglF3XUXM92llAUTzeE/8c62d68c67424a2ac9d94b3ab3d92d91/_matminelli_MMXT5752.jpg)
## Fuerteventura
### 149 km 2049m+
After a quick 30 min ferry power nap, the Guanchers will hit the easy but long ride across Fuerteventura. Usually the trade winds help a lot, not this time I suppose after checking the latest weather forecast. Pajara and Betancuria offer good resupply points and in Betancuria there is even a water fountain for the ones passing through at night. The ones challenging the Audax pace must make the 6.30pm or 8pm ferry to Gran Canaria, all the other adventurers might sleep in a hotel or at the beach in Morro Jable and start Gran Canaria with fresh legs after a good night of sleep.
![GGAR3 (GRAN CANARIA) @RHAUL-71](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1VZIEMzjVqoiwfKvQwaSAb/ca65be5fcee763614799d0620b6740bf/GGAR3__GRAN_CANARIA___RHAUL-71.jpg)
## Gran Canaria
### 142 km 3818m+
The climbing game starts here but first hope for a quiet sea. Don’t underestimate seasickness. I clearly remember these 60 minutes on the ferry toilet 2 year ago, not the best moment of my life. From Las Palmas, it’s a boring 2 hour ride to Ingenio, the last resupply point before heading into the Barranco Guayadeque, where the long and steep climb to Pico de las Nieves, the highest mountain of the island, starts. The Audaxers will ride all of this during the night, it’s a pity to miss out on the beautiful views or just a reason to come back to the islands in the future.
![@matminelli MMXT6676](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1HS7btel3Okiqd3F2hsrAI/b404273e60aae266bfd18d2498fa6dfa/_matminelli_MMXT6676.jpg)
## Tenerife
### 189 km 4823m+ 
The pen-ultimo island comes with a massive elevation gain. The climb starts just out of Santa Cruz city and leads to Anaga mountains in a lush green forest usually shredded in the mist. La Laguna, the former capital offers everything a hungry and tired cyclist might want before climbing up to Mt. Teide. Sadly, the pine forest on this climb was hit by a huge summer wildfire last year, therefore the views might be a bit depressing. But after 450km riding without much sleep, the views might not be the primary concern of the riders. Don’t underestimate the weather: it can be cold and freezing, we hope our Guanchers are prepared with proper winter clothing, especially if they want to do this stage at night. In case the road up to Teide is closed due to snow, there is an alternative route around.
![@matminelli MMXT7446](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1BTnhJGU0rnaIxdxsT1PIc/8cf5c1e46028057f3596de0942190d60/_matminelli_MMXT7446.jpg)
## El Hierro
### 112 km 3640m+
Onto the fifth and final island, the final leg is a 112km loop before finishing in Timijiraque, a small town on the beach with minimal facilities. The landscape of El Hierro is rough and vast, a highlight for everybody who enjoys being out in the wild, away from populated places. The final descent into Timijiraque is a steep and exposed secondary road in a dramatic landscape overlooking the ocean. Requires some skills and attention if descending, and riders are advised not to attack for positions! To combat this, final positions will be considered before the descent.

Thank you for sticking with me till the end of the preview. Have a good time on your bikes, we will be back soon!


Daniela Kirchner

GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2024 Tracking and Commentary: The second edition of GranGuanche's Gravel audax takes in five of the Canary Islands with four ferry journeys. In true audax spirit, riders must be self-supported but are allowed to ride together and draft one another.

GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2024 Tracking

The third edition of GranGuanche's Gravel audax takes in five of the Canary Islands with four ferry journeys. In true audax spirit, riders must be self-supported but are allowed to ride together and draft one another.

GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2024

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GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2024

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