A ride along the river
Circular route from Alzira via Sueca following the Ribera del Júcar
THIS week in Cycle Clips we have a route by our collaborators, Cicloturismo Valencia – a local development project whose initial aims were to promote the region of Valencia, in particular Alicante province, as a quality cycle tourism destination. The success of the initiative has enabled them to expand to other regions throughout the country.
As with all of their routes, they advise that they are indicative and should be undertaken in conjunction with the relative Wikiloc map, which this week can be found at https://es.wikiloc.com/rutascicloturismo/la-ribera-dexuquer-42567088
They also state that cyclists must comply with current regulations regarding helmets and the relevant road markings and signposts along the route.
The route, which the Cicloturismo Valencia collaborators funbici.org did last December, is a 40-kilometre circular ride that starts and finishes in Alzira and, for the most part, follows the Ribera del Júcar.
Route details: Difficulty: Very easy. Practically half of the route runs parallel to the Río Júcar on ‘very cycle-able’ surfaces. The remainder is on asphalted roads with little traffic
Family route: 100% free of traffic in the section along the river
Stages: The route can be easily ridden in one day Accessibility: Local trains stop at Alzira and Sueca Themes: Landscapes, ethnology, culture
Type of wheel: Use any tyre, although it is recommended that it has some grip
Lodging: Alzira or Sueca Services: Multitude of services in the two principal towns of Alzira and Sueca Recommended season and weather: Whatever month of the year. In summer start in the early morning or later in the day Interconnections: Vía Augusta
Romana and the future Eurovelo 8
Route description: The route starts at the Casa Blava, both for its location in Alzira and the history within its walls as the setting for Vicente Blasco Ibañez’s 1903 work Entre Naranjos.
Following the route out of the town, senses awaken with attractive views over the orange groves that accompany the rider for a large part of the ride: “Eye-catching, cheerful and colourful fields in which orange contrasts with the blue light of the Mediterranean sky.”
The plantations and fields of persimmons bring value to the economy, in the face of a decline in the consumption of local oranges due to ones being imported from other countries.
This is a good moment to reflect on the purchase and consumption of local produce in order to revitalise an area’s economy, protect workers and threatened agricultural practices, and contribute to the environment by using zero-kilometre products.
As the route continues the cyclist receives a ‘new gift’, that being the smell of the orange, mandarin and lemon blossom.
After 9km the route joins up with one of Spain’s longest rivers, the Júcar.
The river’s rich landscape and environment, full of reeds and weeping willows, as well as catfish, zander, black bass, crucian carp and eels, enable the cycle tourist to get a taste of the area’s delicious and extraordinary cuisine.
During the trip, the rider’s curiosity will be awakened by the presence of high walls and elevated paths that, it is said, are a fundamental part of a medieval system designed to protect the land and villages from flooding.