“It's the perfect combination for cyclists. Tenerife has many inclines, very good roads and an exceptional climate. It is the only place where we can do training camps at altitude in good conditions. Here you can go from more than 2,000 metres above sea level to sea level in a very short period of time. And that's very positive for us”, explains Primoz Roglic.

Team Jumbo-Visma has once again chosen Tenerife for its high-altitude training camps, vital for the preparation for the key events of the year. So far this year, three have already been carried out. “The main reasons why we chose Tenerife to prepare for the main races of the season are: the climate, the altitude and the long climbs”, says Head of Performance Mathieu Heijboer. It is within this framework that Canary Islands Tourism has decided to join forces with the Dutch team as part of its Professional Sports Tourism strategy.

“The Canary Islands is a top professional sports tourism destination and this cooperation with the best cycling team in the world in 2020 is a clear sign of our commitment to this long-stay, high-spending segment, which will allow us to compete in the market with less dependence on connectivity”, Yaiza Castilla, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Trade of the Canary Islands Government said.

The weather conditions offered by the National Park, with a lower proportion of oxygen, make this environment an ideal destination for these professional cyclists. There are few places on the planet where you can climb in such a short period of time from sea level to more than 2,000 meters above sea level. Training at over 2,500 meters provides ideal conditions for working on endurance capacity. “Training at altitude will allow us to carry more oxygen when we return to sea level and in the end that boils down to better performance”, trainer Tim Heemskerk said.

When it comes to climate, the numbers for the Canary Islands are clear. 23º average in summer, 19º in winter and 4,800 hours of daylight per year. Wout van Aert: “the Canary Islands is one of the few locations where you can train in good weather at certain times of the year.” George Bennet adds: “There aren't many places in the world where you can find so many inclines, such good weather and quiet roads to ride on. Everything is perfect. In addition, there is also a supply of high-rise accommodation, which is not so evident in other destinations.”