180 km Against the Trade Winds: How to Tackle the Lanzarote Bike Leg

The bike leg of the Lanzarote full distance is why this race has the reputation it does. It's not the climbing: 2,500 m of elevation gain over 180 km is less than other alpine races. It's the wind. Constant trade winds from 30 to 50 km/h, on a volcanic island with no trees, no shade and no shelter. Several race reports and course guides say it plainly: the wind changes the face of the race from one hour to the next.

The Course, Segment by Segment

It's a single loop, and that matters: there's no second lap to fix your mistakes.

• From Puerto del Carmen heading west: you skirt the edge of the Timanfaya lava fields. Rolling terrain, often with a tailwind or crosswind. This is where many push too hard.
• Femés: the first real climb. Short, but it serves as a thermometer: if you're already above threshold here, you've started badly.
• Heading north, Tabayesco: a long, rideable climb, but exposed.
• The Haría – Mirador del Río stretch: the toughest point on the course according to the race info and guides. You climb to the highest point, over 400 m, often into a headwind. Here watts don't translate into speed and the head cracks before the legs do.
• The return: from Teguise and Yaiza back to Puerto del Carmen, generally with more favorable wind. This is where you claw back time, if you've still got legs.

The Wind Is the Real Technical Challenge

The problem isn't just the headwind: it's the constant switching between tailwind, crosswind and headwind. With 40-50 km/h crosswind gusts, a deep-section wheel becomes a rudder gone rogue. Course guides and athlete reports agree: mid-depth wheels (40-50 mm max), no disc. The choice between a TT bike and a road bike should be made on the same basis: if you're not confident in the aero position in crosswinds, a road bike with clip-on aero bars is a legitimate choice.

Gearing: go easy. The northern climbs into a headwind are ridden on cadence, not force. An 11-32 cassette or similar isn't for beginners—it's for people who've been here before.

Pacing: Concrete Numbers

The rule from the race info is simple and should be taken literally: 70-75% of FTP for the first third, when the wind helps and the road flows. The classic mistake is riding the first 60 km at dream-average speeds and then blowing up between Haría and the Mirador. A tailwind gives you free speed: no need to pay for it in watts. Save the watts for the headwind sections, where every watt counts for more.

For time benchmarks: a comfortable finisher closes out the bike around 7:30, a sub-12 athlete in 6:25, a sub-11 in 5:50, and anyone chasing a slot in roughly 5:25. Compare against your own references on similar courses and add margin: average times here are higher than in almost every other European full.

Heat and Hydration on the Bike

Over 25°C by mid-morning, zero shade, dry air that evaporates your sweat before you feel it. Dehydration on the bike gets paid back on the marathon. Plan your bottles around the aid stations, not around thirst, and get to T2 with your bladder still working.

What to Do Between Now and May

1. Seek out the wind: use your most exposed routes for long rides, with headwind and crosswind sections, even with your race wheels. 2. Test your setup: a fast descent with crosswind gusts will tell you right away whether your wheel choice is the right one. 3. Rehearse your pacing: a 4-5 hour simulation at 70-75% FTP finishing with a progressive effort replicates the logic of the race. 4. Decide your gearing now, not in transition: if you reach the Mirador with a 39x28 as your easiest gear, you'll remember it for a long time.