A look back by Kieren Banlin and his week long training camp at a valued VeloUK sponsor, Cycling Holiday Spain
![]() |
Kieren writes … It’s Valentines day and I’m in love. One week into the team training camp at Cycling Holiday Spain (http://www.cyclingholidayspain.co.uk), 25hrs of riding, however many miles and vertical meters clocked I don’t mind admitting that I’m beginning to feel a little sleepy.
Maybe it is this fatigue which has caused me to fall in love with a rival team members wife but more likely I’m just happy to be here. Our host Nozad has been welcoming, helpful, supportive and helped to make this a training camp to remember. The great thing about staying in a villa as opposed to a hotel is it is very much a home from home, every rider is relaxed, recovers better and consequently trains better.
As a team we are much closer and actually feel like a team rather than a few lads in matching kit. We’ve learned each others strengths, weakness and personalities. For example, everybody now knows that I am awesome in every way and therefore they are all happy to fetch bottles for me and donate wheels in times of crisis.
The Costa Blanca really is perfect for cycling and having been here a week I can now understand why so many Pros make it their home. Without wishing to gloat, upon hearing that it was snowing in the UK and below 0 across the land I could not stop a smug grin spreading across my face as I returned from yet another perfect 16C ride without a cloud in the sky.
So far this week we’ve been climbed Sierra Aitana, Col de Rates, Turon Duro, Tarbena all of Vuelta fame, up to Guadalest, over to Castell de Castells and a whole bunch of others which my Spanish is too poor to allow me to learn up until now.
Fortunatly Nozad speaks Spanish so I’ve managed to avoid most of the pointing, gesticulating and amplified English necessary to make myself understood, much to the relief of the residents of Callosa. An important point worth mentioning is the daily post ride massages we have all received, it’s a really nice touch which makes the camp that little bit special, it really helps with recovery too and of course its über pro.
If you are considering a training camp or even a holiday with a bike, I think the best decision you could make would be to contact Nozad. If our experience here is anything to go by, your trip will progress so smoothly allowing you to devote all your energys to your riding and worry about nothing else.
Tomorrow all the team return to the UK but I have one more week of this pro lifesyle to enjoy.â€
Kieren
Further Information: http://www.cyclingholidayspain.co.uk
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- 2026 BMCR EVENTS: Stallard & Championships
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #9
- NEWS: Ribble Outliers are back
- Result: Bath & Swindon Winter Series 2026 #1
- CX Result: East Kent Cyclo Cross League Rd5 (BetteshangerCross)
- CX Result: NWCCA 2025/26 #10 (Buile Hill ‘cross)
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo-cross League Rd 6
- CX Result: SuperQuaich Series Rd 1 (Linlithgow Cross)
- Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series 25/26 #7
- Result: 2026 Manchester Regional Track League
- Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series 25/26 #8
- CLAYTON SPRING CLASSIC HANDICAP 2026
- News: UEC TRACK ELITE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- CX Result: Western Cyclo-cross League Rd 11
- CX Result: Leicestershire CX League Rd 5
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Rd 13
- Result: 2026 Manchester Regional Track League
- Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- CX Result: South West Cyclocross Rd 10
- NATIONAL TROPHY FINAL STANDINGS 2025
- RESULT: Manchester Regional Track League
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1
- STARTLIST – DAY 2: BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: British Cyclocross Championships 2026 (DAY 1)
- BMCR FEATURE: KARL SMITH Q&A
- CX Result: South West CX League 9
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League 11
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL 12
- National Trophy CX Round 6 (Day 2)
- CX Result: National Trophy Round 6 (Day 1)
- CX Result: Nova Cross (New Years Day)
- CX Result: Macclesfield Supacross
- CX Result: Boxing Day Cross (Kenilworth)
- CX Result: Leicestershire CX League Rd 4
- CX Result: Yorkshire CX League 8
- National Track Series: Day 2
- CX Result: NWCCA Christmas ‘Cross
- National Track Series/Championships
- National Series Calendars (Youth/Junior/U23/BMX)
- NEWS: INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy
Other News on VeloUK
- NEWS: Ribble Outliers are back
- CLAYTON SPRING CLASSIC HANDICAP 2026
- News: UEC TRACK ELITE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST – DAY 2: BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: British Cyclocross Championships 2026 (DAY 1)
- National Track Series/Championships
- National Series Calendars (Youth/Junior/U23/BMX)
- NEWS: INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy
- Ribble Custom Colours for Clubs
- News: Jacob Bush Extends Contract
- News: British Cycling Competition Framework
- Team News: New role for Geraint Thomas as Director of Racing
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch (November)
- 2026 BMCR EVENTS: Stallard & Championships
- Q&A: James Calvert
- BMCR Feature: Masters Spotlight: Michael Bell
- News: National Series calendars announced for 2026 season
- This Weekend: National Trophy Round 3 (Clanfield)
- Rider Feature: Riley Tonner
- Track Worlds Day 5: GB Report
- Track Worlds Day 4 – GB Team Report
- Track Worlds Day 3 – GB Report
- Track Worlds Day 2 – GB Report
- EVENTS: 2025 HILL CLIMB CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Cavendish Speaks at Pedal Club Dinner
- News: GB for Track Worlds
- Sad News: Max Pendleton Passes Away
- NEWS: CLIMBING TRAINING CAMP
- Tour of Britain 2026 News
- Startlist: National Trophy Round 1 (Derby)
- News: Indoor Champs Coming to Derby
- Report: Harry Hudson wins World Title!
- BMCR National Circuit Championships
- Feature: Eddie Dunbar – Building towards the Tour de France & beyond
- FEATURE: The Pedal Club September Lunch
- News: GB for Road Worlds (Rwanda)
- BMCR Event: National Championship
- Report: Men’s Tour of Britain Stage 5
- New Team for Cyclocross Champion Xan Crees
- Tour of Britain Stage 1



















