Maté. The Mark We Leave Behind

Anyone who has followed Luis Ángel Maté’s career knows he has a deep connection with nature. During his professional years, he never missed an opportunity to highlight the need to preserve the environment, using his platform in cycling to share his love for Mother Earth with anyone willing to listen.
Now, he enjoys cycling in a different way, he doesn’t need to focus on race preparation and can finally embark on adventures that had been simmering in his mind for a long time. The latest is an Andalusian round trip from his home in Marbella to El Rocío, which Maté recounts to make us aware that the land, when we are gone, will be the only thing that remains of us.

Dawn breaks in Marbella’s church square, and in silence, I think about my father. The journey that begins here is a tribute to the man who taught me how to love nature as much as the bike.

We start by heading to Estepona via the A7 highway, where the old thoroughfare transformed into a space for pedestrians and cyclists reminds us that sometimes cities can also return space to people.

From the coast of Cadiz, with Africa on the horizon, we delve into the deepest Andalusia. In Los Alcornocales Natural Park, the magic of ferns, oaks and deer surrounds us as we wind through unexplored paths. Each pedal stroke whispers the almost forgotten story of La Sauceda, an Andalusian corner destroyed during the Civil War, which still survives today in the memory of those who dare to tell it.

The westerly wind, constant and relentless, becomes our companion throughout the initial stage to La Barca de la Florida, where we complete the magnificent 160 kilometers of the first day. With tired bodies but intact spirits, we prepare to experience one of the most anticipated moments of the journey on the second day: crossing the Guadalquivir by barge to enter the Doñana National Park.

Crossing the great river is a sacred moment. As soon as we step onto Doñana’s virgin sand, we are aware of experiencing something unique. We pedal in silence between endless dunes and the roar of the Atlantic Ocean, accompanied only by migratory birds and the echo of our own emotions. The improvised lunch of preserves and bread in a fisherman’s hut tastes like a heavenly delicacy.

With a constant headwind, we arrive in Matalascañas, where civilization and the National Park go hand in hand, somehow showing how unbalanced is our relationship with nature. From there, we skirt the heart of Doñana to enter the village of El Rocío. The marsh, in its full splendor, welcomes us with flocks of birds and wild horses, reminding us of the vital importance of protecting these ecosystems.

Pedaling through the sandy streets of El Rocío, among horses and carriages, is like stepping back in time; it makes us sadly aware that modernity and the excess of cars threaten to dilute the essence of unique places. There, among Andalusian hospitality and improvised conversations, we feel part of something greater.

The return route towards Sierra de Cádiz takes us again through rural paths, among pine forests, marshes and vineyards. We cross the Guadalquivir river again in Coria del Río and ride among storks, livestock and open skies. Each stop, each conversation, each trail is a testament to the enormous value of respecting mother nature.

We end our journey in Marbella, after crossing Sierra de las Nieves and Serranía de Ronda, where nature is on full, unfiltered display. We are exhausted, but full of gratitude.

Each kilometer, each trail, has been a song to life, friendship and love for nature. Because some journeys do not end when you get home. They keep beating in your heart forever.