BEST BUDDIES BREAKAWAY CAMP: PALO ALTO
CYCLING EXPERIENCE
April 8-12, 2026
What to Expect
Camp attendees will enjoy an epic five-day cycling experience April 8–12, 2026, based at the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park. The camp will feature multiple Grand Tours champion Alberto Contador, UCI Pro rider and IronMan Cam Wurf providing wit and wisdom from his years of international racing experience. Each day is a full curriculum with pro tips on climbing, descending, nutrition, group riding skills, and recovery. All riders are given the option to ride one of multiple route options each day to match your desired level of intensity and skill level. Those hoping for a structured, objective based approach to Camp will have the opportunity to work with our USAC Certified Coaching staff to achieve their performance goals. Prior to arrival at camp, Best Buddies staff will analyze training data of those partaking in this program and provide performance targets and support on key sectors of the days routes. Through focused pre-ride meetings and post-ride debriefs, staff will provide riders with the tools to achieve their goals, and feedback on how to maintain or improve their performance through a holistic approach to training during the week and beyond.
The Camp is supported by Pinarello, IOG Bike Fit and Consulting, the Alternate Route, and a full staff of licensed coaches, Tour de France mechanics, professional chefs, and massage therapists.
This five-star Camp helps to raise funds and awareness for Best Buddies International’s global mission to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
What's included
Five days of professionally-led rides through Palo Alto with Pro guides SAG support.
- Ride alongside multiple Grand Tours champion Alberto Contador and Cam Wurf of Team INEOS-Grenadiers.
- Comprehensive fit evaluation and adjustments by renowned fitter Ivan O’Gorman
On-site mechanic for pre-ride, on-ride, and post-ride support - Fully catered and luxury style health-conscious rest stops. Some items include homemade, nutrition-dense rice cakes and bars, chilled fresh fruit, electrolyte drinks, soda, coffee, water, gels, and chilled and scented towels
- A custom Best Buddies cycling kit including jersey, bib, and arm sleeves
- Daily pre-ride briefing, route overview, skills discussion and Q&A with coach over coffee and light breakfast
- Correspondence with coach in the weeks leading up to the Camp to discuss cycling and fitness goals
- Option for one-on-one break-out sessions with a coach throughout the Camp
- Every rider will depart with a general fitness calendar to achieve athletic and lifestyle goals for the year
Nutrition and Wellness
Providing a holistic approach to training with special attention given to nutrition and post-training recovery.
- Daily gourmet, nutrient-dense group breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- Daily post-ride massage and nutrition in the Best Buddies Recovery Room
- Presentations by leading fitness experts, including professional exercise physiologists
- Learn how train and recover for optimal performance day-in and day-out
- Hiking focused guided yoga, stretch, and foam-rolling sessions designed to improve flexibility, relieve tension, alleviate sore muscles, and promote recovery
Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park
The Camp package includes a complimentary four (4) night stay at the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park.
- Complimentary stay at the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park for four (4) nights.
- Guests will have access to the resort’s five-star spa, pool, and fitness facilities
- Complimentary daily laundry service
DAILY ITINERARY
Wednesday, April 8 - Sunday, April 12, 2026
Wake up to the beauty of California’s rolling hills at Rosewood Sand Hill, where refined comfort meets a spacious retreat. For five days, enjoy breakfast with serene views of the Santa Cruz Mountains before cycling through redwood forests and vista views. Return each afternoon for a hearty lunch and rejuvenating massage, then close the day with a social dinner and recap alongside fellow hikers.
Day 1
Pro cycling teams know the day before a big race is crucial, and a Best Buddies Breakaway Camp is no different! Our first day will give riders a taste of the camp to come, climbing up the beautiful Old La Honda Road as the main feature of our 22-mile route. After approximately 1,400 feet of climbing, the peloton will head down a fun, flowy descent while getting familiar with our riding protocols. Our coaches will be ready to assist you with skills, fitness, and equipment setup tips!
See Route & Schedule
Route
Schedule
12:00 PM Guest arrival at The Rosewood Menlo Park
12:00 pm – 3:00 PM Garmin Setup and Configuration, Fit Seminar, & Flat and Bike Maintenance
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM 22-mile shakeout ride with 2,100 feet of climbing at a conversational pace with review of road rules.
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Bike service, coaching consult, and fit service.
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Welcome dinner with schedule overview and group goals discussion
Day 2
Get ready for a challenging day of climbing with two route options: the A Route is a 64-mile ride with 6,200 feet of elevation gain featuring two marquee climbs at the start and end of the route, with rolling terrain in between and stunning Skyline Boulevard views before a final descent back to the hotel, while the B Route offers a 51-mile option with 5,535 feet of climbing, taking on King’s Mountain Road and a redwood-lined descent down Tunitas Creek Road, with both groups sharing a false-flat climb to the rest stop before the B Group heads back on a more direct return route.
See Route & Schedule
Schedule
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM Meditation / Stretching Session
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM Coffee and breakfast
7:30 AM Rider Meeting
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- A Route: Get ready for an exhilarating challenge on this 64-mile ride which features 6,200 ft of climbing. The elevation gain will largely come from two marquee climbs bookending the route, with rolling and false-flat terrain in between. After the uphill efforts, we’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views along Skyline Boulevard before descending back to the hotel.
- B Route: Covering 51 miles and 5,535 ft of climbing, this route takes riders up King’s Mountain Road before descending through the redwoods on Tunitas Creek Road. The two groups will share a false-flat climb to the day’s rest stop, before splitting again with the B Group taking a more direct route back to the hotel.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Lunch at Rosewood
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Massage and compression therapy with protein smoothies in The Spa
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Garmin Setup and Configuration, Fit Seminar, & Flat and Bike Maintenance
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dinner at Rosewood
Day 3
Day 3 offers a slightly more forgiving—but still rewarding—day of riding with two route options: the A Route covers 54.5 miles with 5,859 feet of climbing and features two of the camp’s longest ascents up Page Mill Road and Tunitas Creek Road, helping riders stay strong ahead of the Queen Stage, while the B Route is a shorter 39.7-mile ride with 4,358 feet of climbing that keeps the challenge high—especially with the tough finish up Alpine Road to Skyline Boulevard—while leaving riders energized for day 4.
See Route & Schedule
Schedule
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM Meditation / Stretching Session
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM Coffee and breakfast
7:30 AM Rider Meeting
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- A Route: Day 3’s route is a bit more forgiving than the previous day, ensuring campers still have an amazing day in the saddle without leaving them completely empty for the Queen Stage to follow. Covering 54.5 miles and climbing 5,859 ft, Day 3 features less total elevation gain than the other days, but includes two of the longest climbs of camp, taking riders up Page Mill Road and Tunitas Creek Road.
- B Route: At 39.7 miles and 4,358 feet of climbing, the B route is designed to allow riders to finish feeling accomplished while maintaining energy for the big ride to come on day 4, similarly to the A route. While the distance and elevation gain are slightly truncated, the climb up Alpine Road to Skyline Boulevard to end the day is one of the more challenging climbs of the camp.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Lunch at Rosewood
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Massage and compression therapy with protein smoothies in The Spa
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Garmin Setup and Configuration, Fit Seminar, & Flat and Bike Maintenance
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dinner at Rosewood
Day 4
The Queen Stage
Each Grand Tour has a “Queen Stage,” a route that challenges all, but can break some. This stage will be the longest and most difficult of the five days. There are longer transitions across challenging rolling terrain between the featured climbs of each route. This parcours will challenge not only your physical ability, but also your mental resilience. Our team strives to get every camper through this test, riding stroke-for-stroke, bar-to-bar, and knee-to-knee with the campers. By applying what they’ve learned and leaning on the support of our coaching staff, every camper will walk away from the Queen Stage feeling a great sense of pride and accomplishment after tackling the camp’s hardest day!
See Route & Schedule
Schedule
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM Meditation / Stretching Session
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM Coffee and breakfast
7:30 AM Rider Meeting
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- A Route: This challenging 70.8-mile route features a staggering 7,498 feet of climbing, with a shark tooth profile that forces campers to tackle several shorter efforts in between the two main climbs of the day. A route participants begin the day climbing Kings Mountain Road, before riding the full length of Stage Road south to Pescadero. From there they will begin an 11-mile climb linking 3 iconic roads before descending back to the hotel for some much deserved rest and recovery.
- B Route: The Queen Stage’s B Route covers 57.8 miles and gains 6,248 ft along the way. Campers will face two of the longest climbs in the area, alternating between the shade and shelter of the giant redwood trees and the beautiful views across the Open Space Preserves, where you can see from the ridge on Skyline Boulevard all the way across miles of rolling green hills to the ocean.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Lunch at Rosewood
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Massage and compression therapy with protein smoothies in The Spa
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dinner at Rosewood
Day 5
Finish strong with two great final-day options: the A Route is a scenic 50.8-mile ride with just over 5,700 feet of climbing, featuring Skyline Boulevard, a descent to Cañada Road with beautiful views of Crystal Springs Reservoir on a car-free stretch, and an optional bonus loop up La Honda and down Kings Mountain that adds about 2,000 more feet of elevation gain, while the B Route follows the same main course but skips the bonus loop for a shorter 33.9-mile ride with 3,523 feet of climbing—perfect for earlier flights or riders looking for a lighter finish.
See Route & Schedule
Schedule
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM Meditation / Stretching Session
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM Coffee and breakfast
7:30 AM Rider Meeting
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- A Route: Get ready for a fantastic finish with this 50.8 mile ride featuring just over 5,700 feet of climbing as we head north on the ridge along Skyline Boulevard, before descending to return on Cañada Rd, enjoying the views of Crystal Springs Reservoir along this flat stretch of road, which is closed to vehicle traffic for several miles. Riders who haven’t yet had their fill of climbing will climb back up La Honda Road before descending Kings Mountain Road to complete their bonus loop that adds approximately 2,000 feet of gain, bringing the route’s overall gain to its impressive total.
- B Route: For those with earlier flights and those who have had their fill in the mountains, the B route is largely the same as the A route, with the removal of the “bonus loop” up La Honda and down Kings Mountain. This truncation leaves the B route at 33.9 miles and 3,523 feet of gain on the day.
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Lunch at Rosewood
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Massage and compression therapy with protein smoothies in the Spa
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Check Out and Departure
Five-Day Breakaway Camp Package
$8,000 One-Time Rider Fee ($4,000 Deposit Due at Registration)
Once registered, you’ll have access to your own fundraising webpage, which you can easily personalize. Your webpage makes it easy for donors to give and for you to ask for and keep track of donations.
We’ll also provide you with fundraising materials, including email and letter templates, posters and step-by-step guides for holding your own fundraising events. And, you’ll have the support of a Best Buddies Coach. Whether you are new to fundraising, or an old pro, we’ve got all the tools you’ll need to not only meet, but exceed your fundraising goals.
Supporting Best Buddies
All funds raised benefit Best Buddies International, the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.
The IDD community that Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.