The team from Spain consists of five cyclists who are coming from various parts of Spain and who will be biking from Valencia to Barcelona. They will be cycling for approxiamtely 24 hours and 33 minutes, for a distance of 409, 02 KM. They will be cycling with a speed of 16,7 km, and altitude of minium -2m to maximum 384m and elevation gain of 3936m and elevation loss of 3941m. 

We are excited to introduce these amazing athletes with you and share a little bit about their story and why they are Biking to Barcelona.

Carlos Andrés
Hi I’m Carlos Andrés, I am 61 years old and I was diagnosed with Parkinson in July 2009. The reason for cycling to the 6th WPC is to give visibility to the disease and to show the importance of practicing sport as a treatment. I have been cycling for more than 30 years, both mountain biking and road cycling and road cycling, although for the last few years I've been concentrating my rides in the gravel mode because it allows me to ride on quieter roads.  My training consists of 3 or 4 rides a week of between 40 and 60 kilometers and a few more special ones of up to 80 or even 100 kilometers.  Of course, it all depends on how you feel on the day of the ride because Parkinson loves to give you last minute surprises and you'll be and you are left, dressed as a cyclist, with no way out. The key is to never stop trying. 

José Alberto Estrada
Hello my name is José Alberto Estrada and I am 39 years old and I am from Chiclana (Cádiz) I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in September 2022. I met Carlos Andres through social networks and he told me about the visibility challenge towards the 6th wcp of Valencia-Barcelona by bike and I did not hesitate to join the challenge. Everything is for the importance of sport in this disease. I practice triathlon since I was 15 years old and nowadays I practice mountain running. Every day I do either running or cycling, I rest 1 day a week. There are good days and not so good days, those days I try to move even if it's just walking or stretching. My goal with this project of visibility pedaling towards the 6th WPC is that young people with Parkinson's have clear that to have a quality of life as good as possible, is to be active and do physical exercise and not to think about tomorrow. See you in Barcelona! 

Ximo Mira Escribano
Hello, I'm Ximo Mira Escribano. I'm 59 years old and I've been living in Carcaixent for 27 years. I was first diagnosed with Parkinson's since 2019 and I've been suffering from this problem for 3 years, as well as anxiety and long periods of depression. I like to do sport and I've spent my life cycling and walking in the mountains. I met Carlos and he told me about this project and I liked it from the first moment, sharing days with people with similar problems.  I go ride my bike at least 4 days a week of about 70km approx. I like cycling, I have done the Camino de Santiago 8 times, even walking or cycling, as well as several green ways through the Spanish geography, also routes that I plan on my own. In May, I will be touring the Sierra de Albarracín. I always go alone, I like to go alone and be by myself. That's why this time it will be a new experience for me, sharing the route to Barcelona with my colleagues. I am excited, but I am also curious to see how I can mix together with the team I'll tell you when we meet in Barcelona on July.

Kepa Herrán
My name is Kepa, and I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2018.  I am 66 years old, and I am from Ametzaga de Zuia.  I live in Otazu, a town belonging to the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz.  My relationship with Parkinson's goes back a long way in the family because my father also had it, so somehow I know what's coming even though no Parkinson's is the same.  I am in a clinical trial related to the origin of the disease.  I love to join the Spanish Team on this adventure because I have always practiced sports and cycling is one of them. Furthermore, I try to go out and train at least twice a week and ride between 45 and 60 km. I have to mention that lately I switched to a battery-powered pedaling assisted bike. I usually use the lowest assist set. I feel safer and I suffer a little less.  Practicing sports seems to me a fundamental tool to live with Parkinson's. Of course, it depends on your symptoms.  For me facing this challenge is very important and this bike adventure that Carlos has prepared is one more step in that direction. 

Enara Herrán
Hello, I am Enara Herrán, Kepa's daughter, who has been a patient with Parkinson's since 2018. I am a pharmacy doctor and part of my research career has been focused on finding new therapeutic alternatives for this disease.  I currently work in a start-up in the health sector implementing new solutions that allow us to optimize care processes, and that efficiently promote the integration of holistic care and monitoring of patients.  Also, since I was a little girl, I share my passion for sports and especially for cycling with my father, and pedaling with him and the rest of my colleagues in this fantastic initiative seems like a unique opportunity to make this disease visible. I hope this challenge will help to push public administrations to implement multidisciplinary and equitable care pathways that help improve the quality of life and autonomy of patients with Parkinson's disease. 

For more information about Bike to Barcelona check our page.

Ideas and opinions expressed in this post reflect that of the author(s) solely. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the World Parkinson Coalition®