Tenerife

With its stunning volcanic landscapes, average year-round temperatures of 23°C and smooth roads that soar to 2,300 m in altitude, Tenerife has become the playground of pro cyclists.

Several elite teams train here, and can usually be found with a block booking at the Parador de Las Cañades del Teide hotel, in the Teide National Park at over 2,000m altitude.

Tenerife is a land of strange contradictions. It's an autonomous region of Spain, but this sun-baked island is geographically closer to Africa, which lies just 300km away. It is one of the most popular beach destinations in Europe, but is isolated enough to be a designated Starlight destination for its pure skies and low light pollution. And although the Teide National Park - a region of jaw dropping terrain around the 3,718m Teide volcano - is hot, arid and hostile, the island also boasts lush laurel forests and flower-drenched mountain villages.