Tamusia Bike Loop

Tamusia Bike Loop is a race that grew out of a rural development project. ADISMONTA, the development association for the Sierra de Montánchez and Tamuja, first marked out seven permanent gravel routes linking twenty villages of the comarca. A friendly meet-up to show them off became a regional open, and then a Copa de España round run by Extremeñamente.

This is the heart of Extremadura: dehesa, olive groves and dry-stone walls, with the Sierra de Montánchez rising above villages such as Albalá, Almoharín, Valdemorales and Zarza de Montánchez. Almost all of the riding is on dirt tracks, joined by short links on quiet rural lanes.

Food is part of the identity: the permanent routes carry names like Ruta del Queso and Un jamón en el balcón, and the area's gastro-gravel meet-ups send riders between themed tasting stops. The event exists as much to open the comarca to visiting riders as to crown a winner.