La Desértica takes place on Sat, Oct 17, 2026 in Almería, Spain. The main route is 120 km.
- Date
- Sat, Oct 17, 2026
- Start
- Almería 🇪🇸
- Distance
- 120 km
- Climbing
- 2,376 m
- Level
- Open to all
A desert gravel and MTB ultra-fondo across Almería province within a 12-hour limit. — 120 / 110 km · 2,500 m climb
What this race demands
La Desértica demands continuous effort over 120 km of desert gravel and mountain bike terrain with 2376 meters of climbing within a 12-hour limit.
Climbing volume
Riders must manage 2376 meters of elevation gain spread across a 120 km ultra-fondo, requiring sustained climbing capability and muscular endurance.
Terrain management
The desert gravel and mountain bike surface demands technical competence and equipment durability to handle rough off-road conditions efficiently.
Pacing discipline
Operating under a strict 12-hour completion limit requires disciplined energy distribution to maintain steady forward progress through the latter stages.
Given the extended duration likely exceeding five hours, athletes should target an intake of 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour to sustain output.
What would it take you?
Pick the level closest to yours for an estimate of finish time on this course and the training a solid preparation needs.
Estimated finish
5:40–6:50
Peak-week training
6–8 h/week
A model estimate from distance, climbing and level, not a promise. Conditions, drafting and pacing move it.
IntervalCoach turns those weekly hours into a concrete plan built around your actual fitness. Start with this race as your goal
Your road to race day
Race day at La Desértica is 7 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Build1 week · Aug 30, 2026 – Sep 5, 2026
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
02Peak3 weeks · Sep 6, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
03Taper2 weeks · Sep 27, 2026 – Oct 10, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
04Race week1 week · Oct 11, 2026 – Oct 17, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
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