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Red Rick said:
It means 'The Well of the Dead Women' or Dead Women's well. There are a lot of villages with very very odd names in Spain.
Nilsson said:
That isn't actually the name of a village but a place up in the mountain. Legend says that several shepherd women were caught there by a snowstorm and were found dead in their shelter.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 32,306
- 13,835
- 28,180
Pico de los Reales, Andalucía
Where is it?
Above Estepona, this is the full climb that they did the first two thirds of last year when they finished at the Alto de las Peñas Blancas.
How do you climb it?
From Estepona, this is a very ESP-worthy 21,9km @ 6,5%, including some very nasty ramps of up to 20% in the early running. The climb then gets into a nice groove of just under 7% to Peñas Blancas; the additionals on top of that total 6,1km @ 7,6% including nine ramps over 10%, a maximum of 15% and the final two kilometres being partially hormigón. There is also a slightly easier version that avoids the toughest ramps of the early part, which clocks in at 21,8km @ 6,6%. There are some other approaches from the north, but they would require the climb being broken up into smaller climbs and not really justifying the cat.ESP.
Why did I consider it?
Because 22km at over 6% is most definitely ESP-categorisation worthy, and with some of the ramps they have in this one it certainly would justify the categorization. The Sierra Bermeja doesn't have a huge number of enormous climbs, but this one certainly belongs among the biggest challenges in Spain. If anything, the main thing that stood against it was that it was climbed, to Peñas Blancas, in last year's Vuelta; while like Gamoniteiro, Picón del Fraile and Llano de las Ovejas we are talking about climbing a world above that which the cycling world already knows about, here we are talking about a climb that remains fresh in the memory. Realistically, this one does belong in the countdown, but like La Bobia, I just couldn't find enough room for it.
How can it be used?
This is the tougher part. The original 2013 Vuelta stage to Peñas Blancas was a veritable one-climb stage, but not as much as genuine stage we eventually got; to climb this from its ESP side I can't see that we can do much better than the original stage plan, if approaching from the west. There are a few tougher climbs that can be used earlier in the stage, but not too close to the finish unless we go all ballistic like this route from APM which includes a loop-de-loop at the end so is quite impractical. However you could use that route up to the climb of Peñas Blancas as a best-possible-scenario and then go straight up to Pico de los Reales instead of having the Guenalguacil loop.
Where is it?
Above Estepona, this is the full climb that they did the first two thirds of last year when they finished at the Alto de las Peñas Blancas.
How do you climb it?
From Estepona, this is a very ESP-worthy 21,9km @ 6,5%, including some very nasty ramps of up to 20% in the early running. The climb then gets into a nice groove of just under 7% to Peñas Blancas; the additionals on top of that total 6,1km @ 7,6% including nine ramps over 10%, a maximum of 15% and the final two kilometres being partially hormigón. There is also a slightly easier version that avoids the toughest ramps of the early part, which clocks in at 21,8km @ 6,6%. There are some other approaches from the north, but they would require the climb being broken up into smaller climbs and not really justifying the cat.ESP.
Why did I consider it?
Because 22km at over 6% is most definitely ESP-categorisation worthy, and with some of the ramps they have in this one it certainly would justify the categorization. The Sierra Bermeja doesn't have a huge number of enormous climbs, but this one certainly belongs among the biggest challenges in Spain. If anything, the main thing that stood against it was that it was climbed, to Peñas Blancas, in last year's Vuelta; while like Gamoniteiro, Picón del Fraile and Llano de las Ovejas we are talking about climbing a world above that which the cycling world already knows about, here we are talking about a climb that remains fresh in the memory. Realistically, this one does belong in the countdown, but like La Bobia, I just couldn't find enough room for it.
How can it be used?
This is the tougher part. The original 2013 Vuelta stage to Peñas Blancas was a veritable one-climb stage, but not as much as genuine stage we eventually got; to climb this from its ESP side I can't see that we can do much better than the original stage plan, if approaching from the west. There are a few tougher climbs that can be used earlier in the stage, but not too close to the finish unless we go all ballistic like this route from APM which includes a loop-de-loop at the end so is quite impractical. However you could use that route up to the climb of Peñas Blancas as a best-possible-scenario and then go straight up to Pico de los Reales instead of having the Guenalguacil loop.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 32,306
- 13,835
- 28,180
Coll de la Gallina, Andorra
Where is it?
Andorra, obviously. It's in the southwest corner of Andorra, near Sant Julià de Lòria. Again, like a few others on the countdown, the summit lies above a climb the Vuelta already knows, this time the Santuari de Mare de Deu de Canolich, which has hosted stage finishes in 2012 and 2013.
How do you climb it?
There are a couple of ways to climb this one, with similar statistics but a couple of differing characteristics. The main side, familiar in its first two thirds from the recent Vueltas, is the side from Bixessarri. This clocks in at 11,8km @ 8,2%, with more nasty ramps than is truly necessary. The additional 4km after Canolich add three more ramps of 15% and continue at the same kind of gradient, keeping it high and with the last 2km at 9,5% this is plenty tough enough. Climbing the other side, from Sant Julià de Lòria via Fontaneda, the climb is the same length but slightly steeper, with its vital statistics being 11,8km @ 8,5%. However, this comes with the additional challenge that the last 4km come not on the glorious switchbacks of the lower slopes, but on some tough sterrato.
Why did I consider it?
Averaging over 8% for such a distance is a pretty serious deal anyhow, but with the number of brutal ramps on the Bixessarri side and the sterrato on the second half of the Sant Julià de Lòria side this one comes up into the realms of the ESP. I think it ought to get that categorisation. However, there is one inescapable fact about this climb, and that is that it isn't actually in Spain, hence the difficulty in accepting it into the thread. On the other hand, the title of the thread is 21 ESP climbs the Vuelta should use, and Andorra pays up often enough to host La Vuelta (they hosted 3 stages in the 60s, but then in the last 20 years we've seen 6 Arcalis finishes, 3 Pal finishes, 2 at Canolich, 1 at Port d'Envalira and 1 at La Rabassa. In the same time period the Volta a Catalunya has had 4 Pal finishes, 4 Arcalis finishes, 3 Els Cortals finishes, 3 La Rabassa finishes, and 2 Arinsal finishes. Andorra likes hosting bike races, and so there is still every opportunity that the Vuelta could use this climb, either as a finish or in a stage to one of the other ski stations.
How can it be used?
Well, from the Bixessarri side it would have to be a mountaintop finish such as in 2012 and 2013, mainly due to the sterrato on the descent, which is too steep not to need paving before anything can be done. More options therefore come in when climbing from Sant Julià de Lòria. The most logical climb to link it up with would be La Rabassa, as the connectivity is near perfect. If climbing La Gallina first, you can have a mountaintop finish at either 17,3km @ 6,4% or 17,8km @ 6,2%, both arguably ESP. If climbing La Rabassa first, you cut off the final 4km of La Rabassa, climbing to the Alt de la Rabassa rather than Naturlandia, which gives you 13,3km @ 6,8% or 13,8km @ 6,5%, both cat.1. Perhaps my favourite option would be Alt de La Rabassa into the Fontaneda side of La Gallina (including the sterrato) before descending then climbing to Os de Civis, a Spanish settlement only accessible from Andorra; this is a short but steep climb, bearing in mind we're only doing the last 6km of that, which average 8,4%. The final 2km average 11% though, so that would be brutal. However, it would allow a profile that looks like this in the closing stages (I would prefer to beef up the stage, either with some other Andorran climbs like the Coll d'Ordino if coming from the north, or with Port del Cantó if coming from the south. The last triple header would remain untouched, however). However, from the descent into Aixovall, there are literally only 5km to Andorra la Vella, so these are far from the only options. One of the best options in this respect, in my opinion, would be to have La Rabassa and Coll de la Gallina, then after the 5km, have the southern side of La Comella, 4,2km @ 7,9%, then descend back into Andorra la Vella to finish. Or, from La Comella, you could continue on to Llac d'Engolasters, either as two cat.2 climbs back to back or a single cat.1 climb. This would keep La Gallina close to the finish and also close enough to justify a bit of action taking place there, whereas if we were then to continue on to climb to one of the Vallnord or Ordino ski stations (of which Arinsal would be by far my favourite) the action on La Gallina would be limited.
I would actually like to see the stage to Os de Civis or Llac d'Engolasters and then if we have to use one of the big ski stations, an MTT from Andorra la Vella to Arinsal or Els Cortals, please.
True story: I actually think you could have some really amazing races in Andorra, and it is a really charming place in the summer. However, its opportunities are not best utilised, even at present with the lack of paving on one side rendering La Gallina hard to use in a pro race, and the same going for other potential Andorran monsters like Port del Cabús (18,0km @ 6,0%) and the brilliantly located Coll de Beixalis (12,5km @ 6,1% from Andorra la Vella) which is unfortunately not paved on its Encamp side (can't find a profile). If that were paved it would be a perfect lead-in climb to any of the Vallnord climbs, as a steeper alternative to the Coll d'Ordino, and also the Anyós side would be a perfect lead-in to Llac d'Engolasters.
Where is it?
Andorra, obviously. It's in the southwest corner of Andorra, near Sant Julià de Lòria. Again, like a few others on the countdown, the summit lies above a climb the Vuelta already knows, this time the Santuari de Mare de Deu de Canolich, which has hosted stage finishes in 2012 and 2013.
How do you climb it?
There are a couple of ways to climb this one, with similar statistics but a couple of differing characteristics. The main side, familiar in its first two thirds from the recent Vueltas, is the side from Bixessarri. This clocks in at 11,8km @ 8,2%, with more nasty ramps than is truly necessary. The additional 4km after Canolich add three more ramps of 15% and continue at the same kind of gradient, keeping it high and with the last 2km at 9,5% this is plenty tough enough. Climbing the other side, from Sant Julià de Lòria via Fontaneda, the climb is the same length but slightly steeper, with its vital statistics being 11,8km @ 8,5%. However, this comes with the additional challenge that the last 4km come not on the glorious switchbacks of the lower slopes, but on some tough sterrato.
Why did I consider it?
Averaging over 8% for such a distance is a pretty serious deal anyhow, but with the number of brutal ramps on the Bixessarri side and the sterrato on the second half of the Sant Julià de Lòria side this one comes up into the realms of the ESP. I think it ought to get that categorisation. However, there is one inescapable fact about this climb, and that is that it isn't actually in Spain, hence the difficulty in accepting it into the thread. On the other hand, the title of the thread is 21 ESP climbs the Vuelta should use, and Andorra pays up often enough to host La Vuelta (they hosted 3 stages in the 60s, but then in the last 20 years we've seen 6 Arcalis finishes, 3 Pal finishes, 2 at Canolich, 1 at Port d'Envalira and 1 at La Rabassa. In the same time period the Volta a Catalunya has had 4 Pal finishes, 4 Arcalis finishes, 3 Els Cortals finishes, 3 La Rabassa finishes, and 2 Arinsal finishes. Andorra likes hosting bike races, and so there is still every opportunity that the Vuelta could use this climb, either as a finish or in a stage to one of the other ski stations.
How can it be used?
Well, from the Bixessarri side it would have to be a mountaintop finish such as in 2012 and 2013, mainly due to the sterrato on the descent, which is too steep not to need paving before anything can be done. More options therefore come in when climbing from Sant Julià de Lòria. The most logical climb to link it up with would be La Rabassa, as the connectivity is near perfect. If climbing La Gallina first, you can have a mountaintop finish at either 17,3km @ 6,4% or 17,8km @ 6,2%, both arguably ESP. If climbing La Rabassa first, you cut off the final 4km of La Rabassa, climbing to the Alt de la Rabassa rather than Naturlandia, which gives you 13,3km @ 6,8% or 13,8km @ 6,5%, both cat.1. Perhaps my favourite option would be Alt de La Rabassa into the Fontaneda side of La Gallina (including the sterrato) before descending then climbing to Os de Civis, a Spanish settlement only accessible from Andorra; this is a short but steep climb, bearing in mind we're only doing the last 6km of that, which average 8,4%. The final 2km average 11% though, so that would be brutal. However, it would allow a profile that looks like this in the closing stages (I would prefer to beef up the stage, either with some other Andorran climbs like the Coll d'Ordino if coming from the north, or with Port del Cantó if coming from the south. The last triple header would remain untouched, however). However, from the descent into Aixovall, there are literally only 5km to Andorra la Vella, so these are far from the only options. One of the best options in this respect, in my opinion, would be to have La Rabassa and Coll de la Gallina, then after the 5km, have the southern side of La Comella, 4,2km @ 7,9%, then descend back into Andorra la Vella to finish. Or, from La Comella, you could continue on to Llac d'Engolasters, either as two cat.2 climbs back to back or a single cat.1 climb. This would keep La Gallina close to the finish and also close enough to justify a bit of action taking place there, whereas if we were then to continue on to climb to one of the Vallnord or Ordino ski stations (of which Arinsal would be by far my favourite) the action on La Gallina would be limited.
I would actually like to see the stage to Os de Civis or Llac d'Engolasters and then if we have to use one of the big ski stations, an MTT from Andorra la Vella to Arinsal or Els Cortals, please.
True story: I actually think you could have some really amazing races in Andorra, and it is a really charming place in the summer. However, its opportunities are not best utilised, even at present with the lack of paving on one side rendering La Gallina hard to use in a pro race, and the same going for other potential Andorran monsters like Port del Cabús (18,0km @ 6,0%) and the brilliantly located Coll de Beixalis (12,5km @ 6,1% from Andorra la Vella) which is unfortunately not paved on its Encamp side (can't find a profile). If that were paved it would be a perfect lead-in climb to any of the Vallnord climbs, as a steeper alternative to the Coll d'Ordino, and also the Anyós side would be a perfect lead-in to Llac d'Engolasters.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 32,306
- 13,835
- 28,180
Here's a bit of background on Andorra's climbs, not all of which we know about.
Aixàs
fromSant Julià de Lòria (7,5km @ 8,0%)
Mountain-top finish (village and refuge)
Alt de La Rabassa
From Sant Julià de Lòria to the Cruce Aixirivall (south version 13,3km @ 6,8%, north version 13,8km @ 6,5%)
Mountain pass 4km from the summit of Naturlandia La Rabassa
Arcalis (Estación de Esquí Ordino-Arcalis)
From Ordino (17,4km @ 5,3%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Arinsal (Vallnord Sector Arinsal/Estación de Esquí Arinsal)
From Andorra la Vella (14,3km @ 6,1%) (from Coll d'Ordino 9,3km @ 7,2%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Camí del Forn
From Canillo (5,5km @ 6,8%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Certès
From Sant Julià de Lòria (6,0km @ 7,7%)
Mountain-top finish (village)
Coll de la Gallina
from Sant Julià de Lòria via Bixessarri (11,8km @ 8,2%)
From Sant Julià de Lòria via Fontaneda (11,8km @ 8,5%) - final 4km on sterrato
Mountain pass with a parking at the summit; sterrato on one side so MTF only from Bixessarri
Coll d'Ordino
From Andorra la Vella via Canillo (19,7km @ 4,8%)
From Andorra la Vella via Ordino (17,9km @ 5,3%)
From Ordino (9,8km @ 6,9%)
Mountain pass
Collada de Beixalis
From Andorra la Vella via Anyós (12,5km @ 6,1%)
From Encamp (6,0km @ 9,2%) - 2,5km on sterrato
Mountain pass, only accessible from one side due to sterrato
Els Cortals d'Encamp
From Andorra la Vella (15,8km @ 6,8%)
From Encamp (8,8km @ 8,4%) - same as last 9km of the Andorra la Vella side
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Grau-Roïg (Grandvalira-Sector-Grau-Roïg)
From Andorra la Vella (24,4km @ 4,4%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
La Comella
From Andorra la Vella (4,3km @ 7,9%)
From Escaldes (4,1km @ 5,7%)
Mountain pass linked to Llac d'Engolasters
Llac d'Engolasters
From Andorra la Vella via La Comella (12,1km @ 5,3%) - last 5,1km @ 8,2%
From Escaldes (6,1km @ 8,4%)
Mountain-top finish (lake and refuge)
Naturlandia La Rabassa
From Sant Julià de Lòria (south version 17,3km @ 6,4%, north version 17,8km @ 6,2%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Os de Civis
from Sant Julià de Lòria (9,5km @ 7,7%) - final 3,5km in Spain
Mountain-top finish (village and refuge)
Pal (Vallnord Sector Pal/Estación de Esquí Pal)
From Andorra la Vella (16,4km @ 5,3%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station) on side road from Port de Cabús
Port de Cabús
From La Massana (18,0km @ 6,0%)
Mountain pass with parking - Spanish side all sterrato
Port d'Envalira
From Encamp (21,2km @ 5,1%)
From Ax-les-Thermes (35,0km @ 4,8%) - from France
From Col de Puymorens (10,5km @ 6,0%) - from France
Mountain pass
Pass links:
- Descending Port d'Envalira from the French side towards Andorra la Vella links to Grau-Roïg (puncheur finish of 1,5km @ 4%), then Coll d'Ordino, Camí del Forn, Els Cortals d'Encamp, Collada Beixalis (unpaved side), then Llac d'Engolasters and La Comella north.
- Descending Coll d'Ordino from Canillo to Ordino links to Arcalis, then the crossroads that links up to Pal, Port de Cabús and Arinsal. After this there is the paved side of Beixalis.
- Descending Coll d'Ordino from Ordino to Canillo links to Grau-Roïg and Port d'Envalira to the left, Camí del Forn is straight across, and to the right there are connections with the unpaved Beixalis, Els Cortals, Llac d'Engolasters and La Comella north.
- La Comella links to Llac d'Engolasters as well as all of the climbs starting in Andorra la Vella; it can also link up to Els Cortals and the unpaved side of Beixalis.
- Beixalis can at present only really be ascended as a pass from Encamp. This would descend into Andorra la Vella, linking to La Comella or Llac d'Engolasters, or by turning right to La Massana, allowing to reach the crossroads that means going left goes to Pal and Port de Cabús, straight on to Arinsal, and right goes to Coll d'Ordino and Arcalis.
- Coll de la Gallina is similarly only really able to be ascended as a pass via Fontaneda. The descent going down through Bixessarri links to Aixás and Os de Civis, going all the way to Sant Julià de Lòria allows to link to La Rabassa and Certès.
- Alt de la Rabassa loops in on itself a little; it can be connected to Coll de la Gallina (either side), Aixás and Os de Civis as well as Certès.
Aixàs
fromSant Julià de Lòria (7,5km @ 8,0%)
Mountain-top finish (village and refuge)
Alt de La Rabassa
From Sant Julià de Lòria to the Cruce Aixirivall (south version 13,3km @ 6,8%, north version 13,8km @ 6,5%)
Mountain pass 4km from the summit of Naturlandia La Rabassa
Arcalis (Estación de Esquí Ordino-Arcalis)
From Ordino (17,4km @ 5,3%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Arinsal (Vallnord Sector Arinsal/Estación de Esquí Arinsal)
From Andorra la Vella (14,3km @ 6,1%) (from Coll d'Ordino 9,3km @ 7,2%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Camí del Forn
From Canillo (5,5km @ 6,8%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Certès
From Sant Julià de Lòria (6,0km @ 7,7%)
Mountain-top finish (village)
Coll de la Gallina
from Sant Julià de Lòria via Bixessarri (11,8km @ 8,2%)
From Sant Julià de Lòria via Fontaneda (11,8km @ 8,5%) - final 4km on sterrato
Mountain pass with a parking at the summit; sterrato on one side so MTF only from Bixessarri
Coll d'Ordino
From Andorra la Vella via Canillo (19,7km @ 4,8%)
From Andorra la Vella via Ordino (17,9km @ 5,3%)
From Ordino (9,8km @ 6,9%)
Mountain pass
Collada de Beixalis
From Andorra la Vella via Anyós (12,5km @ 6,1%)
From Encamp (6,0km @ 9,2%) - 2,5km on sterrato
Mountain pass, only accessible from one side due to sterrato
Els Cortals d'Encamp
From Andorra la Vella (15,8km @ 6,8%)
From Encamp (8,8km @ 8,4%) - same as last 9km of the Andorra la Vella side
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Grau-Roïg (Grandvalira-Sector-Grau-Roïg)
From Andorra la Vella (24,4km @ 4,4%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
La Comella
From Andorra la Vella (4,3km @ 7,9%)
From Escaldes (4,1km @ 5,7%)
Mountain pass linked to Llac d'Engolasters
Llac d'Engolasters
From Andorra la Vella via La Comella (12,1km @ 5,3%) - last 5,1km @ 8,2%
From Escaldes (6,1km @ 8,4%)
Mountain-top finish (lake and refuge)
Naturlandia La Rabassa
From Sant Julià de Lòria (south version 17,3km @ 6,4%, north version 17,8km @ 6,2%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station)
Os de Civis
from Sant Julià de Lòria (9,5km @ 7,7%) - final 3,5km in Spain
Mountain-top finish (village and refuge)
Pal (Vallnord Sector Pal/Estación de Esquí Pal)
From Andorra la Vella (16,4km @ 5,3%)
Mountain-top finish (ski station) on side road from Port de Cabús
Port de Cabús
From La Massana (18,0km @ 6,0%)
Mountain pass with parking - Spanish side all sterrato
Port d'Envalira
From Encamp (21,2km @ 5,1%)
From Ax-les-Thermes (35,0km @ 4,8%) - from France
From Col de Puymorens (10,5km @ 6,0%) - from France
Mountain pass
Pass links:
- Descending Port d'Envalira from the French side towards Andorra la Vella links to Grau-Roïg (puncheur finish of 1,5km @ 4%), then Coll d'Ordino, Camí del Forn, Els Cortals d'Encamp, Collada Beixalis (unpaved side), then Llac d'Engolasters and La Comella north.
- Descending Coll d'Ordino from Canillo to Ordino links to Arcalis, then the crossroads that links up to Pal, Port de Cabús and Arinsal. After this there is the paved side of Beixalis.
- Descending Coll d'Ordino from Ordino to Canillo links to Grau-Roïg and Port d'Envalira to the left, Camí del Forn is straight across, and to the right there are connections with the unpaved Beixalis, Els Cortals, Llac d'Engolasters and La Comella north.
- La Comella links to Llac d'Engolasters as well as all of the climbs starting in Andorra la Vella; it can also link up to Els Cortals and the unpaved side of Beixalis.
- Beixalis can at present only really be ascended as a pass from Encamp. This would descend into Andorra la Vella, linking to La Comella or Llac d'Engolasters, or by turning right to La Massana, allowing to reach the crossroads that means going left goes to Pal and Port de Cabús, straight on to Arinsal, and right goes to Coll d'Ordino and Arcalis.
- Coll de la Gallina is similarly only really able to be ascended as a pass via Fontaneda. The descent going down through Bixessarri links to Aixás and Os de Civis, going all the way to Sant Julià de Lòria allows to link to La Rabassa and Certès.
- Alt de la Rabassa loops in on itself a little; it can be connected to Coll de la Gallina (either side), Aixás and Os de Civis as well as Certès.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 32,306
- 13,835
- 28,180
And so, we come to the final part of our list. No, no climbs from Las Canarias; I've tried to keep it logistically viable. Certainly there are a great many ESP-worthy climbs in the islands, but the logistics of including them in La Vuelta have meant that several times plans to include them have been abandoned. So we stay on mainland Europe, for something that is both the most obvious, the most easy to add in and simultaneously the most impractical of the whole countdown. Did you guess it?
21. Sierra Nevada... properly
Heading for the skies, sayonara Bonette
I already touched on this when discussing the Collado del Algüacil, but it bears repeating. The Sierra Nevada is one of the Vuelta's most iconic summits, first entering the route in 1979 on a stage from Córdoba which was won by the legendary Joop Zoetemelk. At first, stages were somewhat anæmic, such as this one from 1986, although they did improve with stages such as the legendary Bert Dietz stage from 1995. These stages to this point were utilizing the traditional side of the climb, the main road from Granada to the ski resort town of Pradollano, which clocks in at 22,2km @ 5,6%. In 2003 they extended this by climbing past Pradollano to finish at Hoya de la Mora, which extended the climb to 30km @ 5,7% and increased the finishing altitude to 2510m. A year later they reduced the finishing altitude back down to 2100m in a difficult MTT, also introducing a new side, this being the second half of the traditional side, but the first half being the Collado del Muerto, otherwise known as the Alto del Monachíl in Unipublic parlance, or El Purche for traceurs. Though the statistics were not especially affected (22,9km @ 5,6%) the stop-start nature of El Purche with its 6km at 9% in the middle meant that we had a winner on our hands. When the Vuelta returned to Sierra Nevada after a five year absence in 2009, they went one better, combining El Purche with the ascent into Pradollano via the Collado de las Sabinas. Frustratingly, however, they elected to divide the climbs even though there was practically no respite between El Purche (12,2km @ 6,2%) and the second half of the climb (16,9km @ 5,5% including a bit of descent). The climb in total is the same as this profile (so 25,5km @ 5,7%) then this run in, ending in the Area Autocaravanas at 2380m. Estimating from the stage profile we get 29,9km @ 5,6% as the overall total.
This history lesson is all well & good, Libertine, you might say, but this is kind of supposed to be about climbs the Vuelta SHOULD be using, not IS using. And you would be right. Hence why I said it's kind of cheating here but still needs to be discussed and is definitely a worthy part of this thread. There are two factors that the Vuelta is capable of changing regarding its Sierra Nevada stages, and they are large ones:
1) the finishing line
2) the route they use to get there.
Let us look at the routes first, because once we're up to 2400m they're all the same anyway; before then, however, there are a number of routes to get to the summit. The Vuelta has thus far used three: From Granada to Pradollano on the A-395, from Monachíl to Pradollano by El Purche and the A-395, and from Monachíl to Pradollano via El Purche and the Collado de las Sabinas. The first "alternative" version is to climb the A-395 to El Dornajo and then go into Pradollano via the alternative route used in 2009. This gives 28,7km @ 5,8% to get to 2380m, which is more than solid, but is still a real tempo grinding climb as we are looking at fairly consistent gradient. What we're really here to talk about in terms of these routes is the side via Güejar Sierra. After all, you all saw the 2013 Vuelta. You are therefore all aware of the brutality that is inflicted on the riders between that village and El Dornajo via Haza Llana. Well, that road goes all the way up to the Collado de las Sabinas, and therefore it can be turned into an even more brutal mountain.
Yes, that's right, an almighty 27,4km @ 6,4% including more gradients over 10% than you dare shake your leg at unless you're really cramping up. That climb is going via the Collado de las Sabinas, so you could go as far as 2173m, then have the couple of km flat and the run-in to Pradollano and the Area Autocaravanas shown earlier, however that climb takes us to the Cruce that then would give us about 400m descending into the Area Autocaravanas to make a much more solid finale (this was the original planned finish for 2009 before they decided to take them through the town for logistical reasons). It also stacks up damn well against the Tourmalet, and indeed even if you remove the false flat and descent around Güejar Sierra, you still have a definite ESP climb - 18,0km @ 8,0%. That's ESP in anyone's language.
It would also be feasible to use the El Dornajo climb to lead in to climbing the easier route, on the main road, but really I see that as quite pointless. Why would you take the harder route to halfway only to then make things easier on big wide roads and negate the chances of those slopes actually being important? Certainly the way Javier Guillén has been behaving of late would indicate that he agrees on this front. For the record though, here is a comparative graph of the two profiles between El Dornajo and Pradollano.
Of course, that cruce at 2384m still isn't even remotely close to the end of the climbing. That road is where the traditional route joins the Collado de las Sabinas road to become the all important road to Pico Veleta, the highest paved road in Europe. Here is a photo of the cruce, from Miguel Baéza and Martin Cerván, who have taken on all these beasts and are tougher than I am as a result.
Of course, the existence of this cruce is fantastic news for route designers because it means that designing some incredible routes through the Sierra Nevada is possible; climbing to Pradollano through El Dornajo and Las Sabinas and then being able to descend back to Granada, which allows us to do such brutal combinations as El Purche-Las Sabinas-Collado del Algüacil, or El Dornajo-loop back-Las Sabinas-descend through El Purche-Cumbres Verdes. A descent to finish on Cumbres Verdes would look like this, while another option is to only descend as far as El Dornajo and just climb the second part of the climb again, bringing the super steep stuff closer to the finish.
21. Sierra Nevada... properly
Heading for the skies, sayonara Bonette
I already touched on this when discussing the Collado del Algüacil, but it bears repeating. The Sierra Nevada is one of the Vuelta's most iconic summits, first entering the route in 1979 on a stage from Córdoba which was won by the legendary Joop Zoetemelk. At first, stages were somewhat anæmic, such as this one from 1986, although they did improve with stages such as the legendary Bert Dietz stage from 1995. These stages to this point were utilizing the traditional side of the climb, the main road from Granada to the ski resort town of Pradollano, which clocks in at 22,2km @ 5,6%. In 2003 they extended this by climbing past Pradollano to finish at Hoya de la Mora, which extended the climb to 30km @ 5,7% and increased the finishing altitude to 2510m. A year later they reduced the finishing altitude back down to 2100m in a difficult MTT, also introducing a new side, this being the second half of the traditional side, but the first half being the Collado del Muerto, otherwise known as the Alto del Monachíl in Unipublic parlance, or El Purche for traceurs. Though the statistics were not especially affected (22,9km @ 5,6%) the stop-start nature of El Purche with its 6km at 9% in the middle meant that we had a winner on our hands. When the Vuelta returned to Sierra Nevada after a five year absence in 2009, they went one better, combining El Purche with the ascent into Pradollano via the Collado de las Sabinas. Frustratingly, however, they elected to divide the climbs even though there was practically no respite between El Purche (12,2km @ 6,2%) and the second half of the climb (16,9km @ 5,5% including a bit of descent). The climb in total is the same as this profile (so 25,5km @ 5,7%) then this run in, ending in the Area Autocaravanas at 2380m. Estimating from the stage profile we get 29,9km @ 5,6% as the overall total.
This history lesson is all well & good, Libertine, you might say, but this is kind of supposed to be about climbs the Vuelta SHOULD be using, not IS using. And you would be right. Hence why I said it's kind of cheating here but still needs to be discussed and is definitely a worthy part of this thread. There are two factors that the Vuelta is capable of changing regarding its Sierra Nevada stages, and they are large ones:
1) the finishing line
2) the route they use to get there.
Let us look at the routes first, because once we're up to 2400m they're all the same anyway; before then, however, there are a number of routes to get to the summit. The Vuelta has thus far used three: From Granada to Pradollano on the A-395, from Monachíl to Pradollano by El Purche and the A-395, and from Monachíl to Pradollano via El Purche and the Collado de las Sabinas. The first "alternative" version is to climb the A-395 to El Dornajo and then go into Pradollano via the alternative route used in 2009. This gives 28,7km @ 5,8% to get to 2380m, which is more than solid, but is still a real tempo grinding climb as we are looking at fairly consistent gradient. What we're really here to talk about in terms of these routes is the side via Güejar Sierra. After all, you all saw the 2013 Vuelta. You are therefore all aware of the brutality that is inflicted on the riders between that village and El Dornajo via Haza Llana. Well, that road goes all the way up to the Collado de las Sabinas, and therefore it can be turned into an even more brutal mountain.
Yes, that's right, an almighty 27,4km @ 6,4% including more gradients over 10% than you dare shake your leg at unless you're really cramping up. That climb is going via the Collado de las Sabinas, so you could go as far as 2173m, then have the couple of km flat and the run-in to Pradollano and the Area Autocaravanas shown earlier, however that climb takes us to the Cruce that then would give us about 400m descending into the Area Autocaravanas to make a much more solid finale (this was the original planned finish for 2009 before they decided to take them through the town for logistical reasons). It also stacks up damn well against the Tourmalet, and indeed even if you remove the false flat and descent around Güejar Sierra, you still have a definite ESP climb - 18,0km @ 8,0%. That's ESP in anyone's language.
It would also be feasible to use the El Dornajo climb to lead in to climbing the easier route, on the main road, but really I see that as quite pointless. Why would you take the harder route to halfway only to then make things easier on big wide roads and negate the chances of those slopes actually being important? Certainly the way Javier Guillén has been behaving of late would indicate that he agrees on this front. For the record though, here is a comparative graph of the two profiles between El Dornajo and Pradollano.
Of course, that cruce at 2384m still isn't even remotely close to the end of the climbing. That road is where the traditional route joins the Collado de las Sabinas road to become the all important road to Pico Veleta, the highest paved road in Europe. Here is a photo of the cruce, from Miguel Baéza and Martin Cerván, who have taken on all these beasts and are tougher than I am as a result.
Of course, the existence of this cruce is fantastic news for route designers because it means that designing some incredible routes through the Sierra Nevada is possible; climbing to Pradollano through El Dornajo and Las Sabinas and then being able to descend back to Granada, which allows us to do such brutal combinations as El Purche-Las Sabinas-Collado del Algüacil, or El Dornajo-loop back-Las Sabinas-descend through El Purche-Cumbres Verdes. A descent to finish on Cumbres Verdes would look like this, while another option is to only descend as far as El Dornajo and just climb the second part of the climb again, bringing the super steep stuff closer to the finish.
- Feb 20, 2010
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Now, where to put the finish? There are a number of options, naturally. The first would be in Pradollano itself, at around 2115m, as has been traditional. The second would naturally be the Area Autocaravanas, like in the 2009 stage, at 2380m, which is plenty high enough; this is also about as high as we can go with a looped climb, as after this there are no further options for descending. The next option, at 2510m, is Hoya de la Mora. This adds a further 1,9km @ 6,6% to what we've already been climbing (assuming we finished at the cruce at 2385m).
After Hoya de la Moya, the switchbacks come thick and fast, and the road quality heads south. The next possible stopping point is the Estación de Esquí Borreguiles, the mid-station of the Sierra Nevada resort, at 2675m. From the cruce to the ski station is 5,8km, however the last 1,5km is flat; before that it's 4,3km @ 6,8%. The ski stations look ghostly and otherworldly in the summer given the high altitude and the southerly location meaning the earth is much more scorched than the verdant valleys and glaciers of the Alps.
Our next option, and one that is popular with traceurs, is Observatório IRAM at 2850m, which would of course break the European record for finishing altitude (currently held by the Passo dello Stelvio, if I recall correctly, although the Rettenbachferner road goes higher, they didn't want to finish in a tunnel). Climbing to the observatory requires leaving the Pico Veleta road at the same point as if going to Borreguiles, but continuing past the station for another kilometre of slight descent before a nasty final 1,8km @ 11,2% ramping up to 17%. There is a full profile for this side via Haza Llana, which clocks in at a monolithic 35,9km @ 5,8%, so if Purito and co. leave it to the last 1,8km to attack because of those steep gradients I shall be mighty irritated. The sights are impressive too.
You all owe it to yourselves to see Miguel Baéza and Martín Cerván's gallery of this climb.
The next potential stopping point, staying on the main Pico Veleta road, is the top station at Posiciónes de Veleta.
You can see from that picture the IRAM observatory in the centre, and the Estación de Esquí Borreguiles on the right. It's a crazy world up here. While the road there looks barely usable, I can assure you that it's perfectly good tarmac, as the APM duo can show you. It has to be, as this is the top station there is a shuttle bus that runs back and forth from here to Hoyo de la Mora. We are at... ready for this...? 3100m altitude, and to go all the way back down we would be talking some monolithic distances and gradients. This is arguably where a stage would have to stop, because the tarmac runs out shortly afterward; this kind of thing may look incredible, but it's something out of the Vuelta a Colombia in the 1950s, and not something that modern cycling is likely to be able to cope with (otherwise, bring on the Col de Parpaillon!). However, if they dare, there is a refuge at the very summit. Not much room though, as you might expect; strangely enough when they built the refuge at the summit they didn't take into account the logistics of 200 cyclists, press boxes, team buses, helicopters, camera bikes etc.. However, for the record, overall stats are as follows:
Pico Veleta via Güejar Sierra, Haza Llana, Collado de las Sabinas, Hoyo de la Mora 44,3km @ 5,8% (from base to Posiciónes de Veleta 41,0km @ 5,6%
Pico Veleta via El Purche, Collado de las Sabinas, Alto Pradollano, Hoyo de la Mora 46,6km @ 5,7% (from base to Posiciónes de Veleta 43,3km @ 5,5%
Bear in mind that with that second profile, there is still the option to go directly from Collado de las Sabinas to Hoyo de la Mora; from the picture story on that one the riders elected to go via Pradollano to obtain replenishment, understandable given the scale of the task still to come! The ascent from the cruce above Pradollano to Posiciónes de Veleta is 10,7km @ 6,7% for those that were wondering, so you can stick that on top of your other versions of the climb to have a seriously brutal ascent.
Trying to work these kind of ascents into a stage can be tough; the El Dornajo route to Las Sabinas can easily enough be linked to Algüacil or Cumbres Verdes as mentioned, but it would be a scary, scary loop to start sticking IRAM or Posiciónes de Veleta on top of that, whereas a legitimate cat.1 climb like El Purche looks like a mere baby in front of a climb up to 3000m. Here is a PRC suggestion for Las Sabinas followed by a descent to El Dornajo and then a climb to IRAM from there (a final climb of 18,9km @ 6,2%); another popular option is to simply descend into Granada and climb up to the Alhambra for a puncheur finish off the back of 30km descending.
The Vuelta is never going to finish at Pico Veleta - let me just get that straight. However, the Sierra Nevada is a popular training area, and many riders continue to be surprised and impressed by the world of climbing there is to do above what we already know up there (Robert Gesink tweeted pictures from far above Pradollano back in 2011). There are a few places that could feasibly host the trappings of the race. Hell, a finish at IRAM they could keep things back at Borreguiles or Hoyo de la Mora. In September the weather is unlikely to be a concern in the Sierra Nevada, and if it is, they just move the finish back down to Pradollano (even the Area Autocaravanas, so keeping it at nearly 2400m anyhow). The last time the Vuelta went to Sierra Nevada, they climbed to Pradollano by the traditional route, the easiest side, they stopped not long after 2000m, and Daniel Moreno and Chris Anker Sørensen narrowly beat a group of 30. 30 men sprinting together at the top of Sierra Nevada? That should not be happening, especially after the epic 2009 stage where the top 10 had 3'37 between them, Evans had his puncture, Sánchez his mighty comeback, Mosquera and Gesink pressured Valverde and Moncoutié triumphed. The Sierra Nevada is one of the Vuelta's most iconic climbs, but because Sierra Nevada is not a place but a whole range, there's still a whole world of Sierra Nevada climbing they still need to discover, so I'm asking Señor Guillén, please, pretty please, with sugar on top, use it to its fullest.
After Hoya de la Moya, the switchbacks come thick and fast, and the road quality heads south. The next possible stopping point is the Estación de Esquí Borreguiles, the mid-station of the Sierra Nevada resort, at 2675m. From the cruce to the ski station is 5,8km, however the last 1,5km is flat; before that it's 4,3km @ 6,8%. The ski stations look ghostly and otherworldly in the summer given the high altitude and the southerly location meaning the earth is much more scorched than the verdant valleys and glaciers of the Alps.
Our next option, and one that is popular with traceurs, is Observatório IRAM at 2850m, which would of course break the European record for finishing altitude (currently held by the Passo dello Stelvio, if I recall correctly, although the Rettenbachferner road goes higher, they didn't want to finish in a tunnel). Climbing to the observatory requires leaving the Pico Veleta road at the same point as if going to Borreguiles, but continuing past the station for another kilometre of slight descent before a nasty final 1,8km @ 11,2% ramping up to 17%. There is a full profile for this side via Haza Llana, which clocks in at a monolithic 35,9km @ 5,8%, so if Purito and co. leave it to the last 1,8km to attack because of those steep gradients I shall be mighty irritated. The sights are impressive too.
You all owe it to yourselves to see Miguel Baéza and Martín Cerván's gallery of this climb.
The next potential stopping point, staying on the main Pico Veleta road, is the top station at Posiciónes de Veleta.
You can see from that picture the IRAM observatory in the centre, and the Estación de Esquí Borreguiles on the right. It's a crazy world up here. While the road there looks barely usable, I can assure you that it's perfectly good tarmac, as the APM duo can show you. It has to be, as this is the top station there is a shuttle bus that runs back and forth from here to Hoyo de la Mora. We are at... ready for this...? 3100m altitude, and to go all the way back down we would be talking some monolithic distances and gradients. This is arguably where a stage would have to stop, because the tarmac runs out shortly afterward; this kind of thing may look incredible, but it's something out of the Vuelta a Colombia in the 1950s, and not something that modern cycling is likely to be able to cope with (otherwise, bring on the Col de Parpaillon!). However, if they dare, there is a refuge at the very summit. Not much room though, as you might expect; strangely enough when they built the refuge at the summit they didn't take into account the logistics of 200 cyclists, press boxes, team buses, helicopters, camera bikes etc.. However, for the record, overall stats are as follows:
Pico Veleta via Güejar Sierra, Haza Llana, Collado de las Sabinas, Hoyo de la Mora 44,3km @ 5,8% (from base to Posiciónes de Veleta 41,0km @ 5,6%
Pico Veleta via El Purche, Collado de las Sabinas, Alto Pradollano, Hoyo de la Mora 46,6km @ 5,7% (from base to Posiciónes de Veleta 43,3km @ 5,5%
Bear in mind that with that second profile, there is still the option to go directly from Collado de las Sabinas to Hoyo de la Mora; from the picture story on that one the riders elected to go via Pradollano to obtain replenishment, understandable given the scale of the task still to come! The ascent from the cruce above Pradollano to Posiciónes de Veleta is 10,7km @ 6,7% for those that were wondering, so you can stick that on top of your other versions of the climb to have a seriously brutal ascent.
Trying to work these kind of ascents into a stage can be tough; the El Dornajo route to Las Sabinas can easily enough be linked to Algüacil or Cumbres Verdes as mentioned, but it would be a scary, scary loop to start sticking IRAM or Posiciónes de Veleta on top of that, whereas a legitimate cat.1 climb like El Purche looks like a mere baby in front of a climb up to 3000m. Here is a PRC suggestion for Las Sabinas followed by a descent to El Dornajo and then a climb to IRAM from there (a final climb of 18,9km @ 6,2%); another popular option is to simply descend into Granada and climb up to the Alhambra for a puncheur finish off the back of 30km descending.
The Vuelta is never going to finish at Pico Veleta - let me just get that straight. However, the Sierra Nevada is a popular training area, and many riders continue to be surprised and impressed by the world of climbing there is to do above what we already know up there (Robert Gesink tweeted pictures from far above Pradollano back in 2011). There are a few places that could feasibly host the trappings of the race. Hell, a finish at IRAM they could keep things back at Borreguiles or Hoyo de la Mora. In September the weather is unlikely to be a concern in the Sierra Nevada, and if it is, they just move the finish back down to Pradollano (even the Area Autocaravanas, so keeping it at nearly 2400m anyhow). The last time the Vuelta went to Sierra Nevada, they climbed to Pradollano by the traditional route, the easiest side, they stopped not long after 2000m, and Daniel Moreno and Chris Anker Sørensen narrowly beat a group of 30. 30 men sprinting together at the top of Sierra Nevada? That should not be happening, especially after the epic 2009 stage where the top 10 had 3'37 between them, Evans had his puncture, Sánchez his mighty comeback, Mosquera and Gesink pressured Valverde and Moncoutié triumphed. The Sierra Nevada is one of the Vuelta's most iconic climbs, but because Sierra Nevada is not a place but a whole range, there's still a whole world of Sierra Nevada climbing they still need to discover, so I'm asking Señor Guillén, please, pretty please, with sugar on top, use it to its fullest.
- Feb 20, 2012
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Awesome final climb, definitely worthy of being Especial. Am I right that 3100 is the hightest they can finish?
Anyway, I found this climb called Fuente Escondida http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Fuente-Escondida&qryMountainID=4484 on climbbybike, but I couldn't find anything about that thing, except that it's somewhere in the Picos de Europa. What's your take on that climb?
Anyway, I found this climb called Fuente Escondida http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Fuente-Escondida&qryMountainID=4484 on climbbybike, but I couldn't find anything about that thing, except that it's somewhere in the Picos de Europa. What's your take on that climb?
- Feb 20, 2010
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Oops, my mistake. Here's the link in full.
As for Fuente Escondida, I don't believe that's paved at present. Here's a picture.
I know I included a couple of unpaved or partially unpaved climbs (Sahún, Trobaniello), but they had a side paved or a project to pave them ongoing and were in condition better for putting a race on than this one is, unfortunately, as 24km at 7,5% will be a killer if they ever do pave it.
I also really wish they'd pave the connecting route between Salto de la Cabra and El Jito d'Escarandi.
As for Fuente Escondida, I don't believe that's paved at present. Here's a picture.
I know I included a couple of unpaved or partially unpaved climbs (Sahún, Trobaniello), but they had a side paved or a project to pave them ongoing and were in condition better for putting a race on than this one is, unfortunately, as 24km at 7,5% will be a killer if they ever do pave it.
I also really wish they'd pave the connecting route between Salto de la Cabra and El Jito d'Escarandi.
The first stage with finish at Sierra Nevada in 1979 was not won by legendary Joop Zoetemelk. Zoetemelk was leader but he was second in the stage after Felipe Yáñez. There was a MTT in 1981, with victory for eventual Vuelta (and Giro) winner Giovanni (The Real) Battaglin. In 1986, there was a duel for GC between Robert Millar and Alvaro Pino. Stage winner was... the legendary Felipe Yáñez.
- Feb 20, 2010
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Just for info, the ciclosportive climbs up to 3293m!
http://www.mamutsierranevada.com/spa/item/ART00402.html
http://www.mamutsierranevada.com/spa/item/ART00402.html
- Jul 22, 2011
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Aw, I held some hope for Torre. Guess that would have been too much of a cliché coming from a Portuguese :/
Of course, Sierra Nevada is a much more deserving finisher. Though you know, we give Guillén this reputation of a one-climb special lover, would-Zomegnan-include-this-insane-climb kind of guy... but at the end of the day, if that was really true, how could there be any financial or political pressure in the world able to stop him from pursuit that magic number of 3100m?
3100. It's magic, it resonates in your ears, it's brilliant.
Of course, Sierra Nevada is a much more deserving finisher. Though you know, we give Guillén this reputation of a one-climb special lover, would-Zomegnan-include-this-insane-climb kind of guy... but at the end of the day, if that was really true, how could there be any financial or political pressure in the world able to stop him from pursuit that magic number of 3100m?
3100. It's magic, it resonates in your ears, it's brilliant.
- Feb 20, 2010
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Broth3r said:
I nearly included Torre in my honorable mentions. However, it's not in Spain and Portugal doesn't host the race nearly as often as Andorra, hence the mention for Coll de la Gallina. If they were to go over there though, Torre is a sure-thing ESP though. And I would still love to see it.
- Jul 22, 2011
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As you said yourself in the Coll de la Gallina description, it wasn't mandatory that it had to be in Spain itself, and money is really the only thing that keeps the Vuelta from coming over the border, there's no practical issue whatsoever.Libertine Seguros said:
Part of why I hoped for it is that I resent the race that goes over it. Torre is a behemoth from any side (and particularly from my dad's hometown, Vide; my aunt's house is right in the middle of the first bend), and it absolutely deserves to see WT teams clashing in it. Of course its not solely it's fault, but the Volta has long failed to provide this. And seeing this provincial race that the world ignores and whose spectators hardly care about pro cycling, where it could be could be climbed and fought for with all the spectacle and glory it deserves if only nuestros hermanos - and someone with coin on this side of the border - could so wish. Start it in Cuidad Rodrigo if need be, but it needs to happen someday.
- Feb 18, 2015
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I read through all of them but
1. thats some time ago and
2. after reading about 21 different climbs in 2 hours you already forgot what was written about the first 10 ones
I would just need one information (believe me you need quite a long time to find out this information yourself by reading through the text again) and that would be which of these climbs can actually be used as a pass? Just if someone has time and doesn't have to look up for it maybe he can answer
1. thats some time ago and
2. after reading about 21 different climbs in 2 hours you already forgot what was written about the first 10 ones
I would just need one information (believe me you need quite a long time to find out this information yourself by reading through the text again) and that would be which of these climbs can actually be used as a pass? Just if someone has time and doesn't have to look up for it maybe he can answer
- Feb 20, 2010
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Of those mentioned in this thread:
Climbs that can be used as a pass in more than one direction:
Haza del Lino (north is only a cat.1 climb, but both southern sides are ESP)
Coll de Pradell (west is only a cat.2 climb)
Alto de la Marta (south is only a cat.2 climb, north is ESP)
Fonte da Cova (west is ESP, east is cat.1)
Monte Oiz
Llano de las Ovejas
Alto de La Bobía (there are 15 sides, so multiple options)
Collfred (east is ESP, west is prob. cat.2)
Puerto del Escúllar
Santuário del Acebo
Coll de la Gallina (not when this was posted, but now that the Andorrans have fully paved both sides)
Climbs that can be used as a pass but only in one direction:
Collado de Sahún (ongoing paving project)
Alto de Trobaniello
Puerto de Vegarada (and it's debatable it's passable from that one!)
Picón Blanco (south side is the tougher climb but part of north side unpaved)
Climbs that are passable as passes but not at the very summit:
Picón del Fraile (passable at cat.1 Portillo de Lunada)
Pico Villuercas (passable at Collado de Ballesteros, viable same categorisation)
Turó de l'Home (passable at Coll de Santa Helena, cat.1)
Alto del Gamoniteiro (passable at Alto de la Cobertoria)
Alto de Ortzanzurieta (passable at Puerto de Ibañeta, cat.1 from north but only cat.3 from south)
Pico de los Reales (passable at Peñas Blancas, cat.1 in 2013 Vuelta)
Sierra Nevada (passable at El Purche, El Dornajo, Collado de las Sabinas and Cruce Pradollano - beyond this it's a one-way)
Climbs not able to be used as passes:
Puerto de la Cubilla
Coll de Pal
Mont Caro
Peña Escrita
Jito de Escarandí
Salto de la Cabra (it is rumoured these two will be connected but I don't hold out much hope)
Collado del Algüacil
Presa de LLauset
Alto de Onsolár
Sierra de Carrascoy
Cap del Rec
Higa de Monreal
Climbs that can be used as a pass in more than one direction:
Haza del Lino (north is only a cat.1 climb, but both southern sides are ESP)
Coll de Pradell (west is only a cat.2 climb)
Alto de la Marta (south is only a cat.2 climb, north is ESP)
Fonte da Cova (west is ESP, east is cat.1)
Monte Oiz
Llano de las Ovejas
Alto de La Bobía (there are 15 sides, so multiple options)
Collfred (east is ESP, west is prob. cat.2)
Puerto del Escúllar
Santuário del Acebo
Coll de la Gallina (not when this was posted, but now that the Andorrans have fully paved both sides)
Climbs that can be used as a pass but only in one direction:
Collado de Sahún (ongoing paving project)
Alto de Trobaniello
Puerto de Vegarada (and it's debatable it's passable from that one!)
Picón Blanco (south side is the tougher climb but part of north side unpaved)
Climbs that are passable as passes but not at the very summit:
Picón del Fraile (passable at cat.1 Portillo de Lunada)
Pico Villuercas (passable at Collado de Ballesteros, viable same categorisation)
Turó de l'Home (passable at Coll de Santa Helena, cat.1)
Alto del Gamoniteiro (passable at Alto de la Cobertoria)
Alto de Ortzanzurieta (passable at Puerto de Ibañeta, cat.1 from north but only cat.3 from south)
Pico de los Reales (passable at Peñas Blancas, cat.1 in 2013 Vuelta)
Sierra Nevada (passable at El Purche, El Dornajo, Collado de las Sabinas and Cruce Pradollano - beyond this it's a one-way)
Climbs not able to be used as passes:
Puerto de la Cubilla
Coll de Pal
Mont Caro
Peña Escrita
Jito de Escarandí
Salto de la Cabra (it is rumoured these two will be connected but I don't hold out much hope)
Collado del Algüacil
Presa de LLauset
Alto de Onsolár
Sierra de Carrascoy
Cap del Rec
Higa de Monreal
Re:
The possibility of a paved connection between Salto de la Cabra and Jitu de Escarandi should not be totally dismissed. It's true that the existing goat path goes through the heart of a highly protected area in the National Park of Picos de Europa. But that would be the only possibility to get by road to the Cantabrian village of Tresviso. As of today, Tresviso can only be accessed by car from Asturias through Jitu de Escarandi and the 3kms section between the ast Asturian village (Sotres) and the Cantabrian border is not very well maintained by the Asturian regional and local government.
Libertine Seguros said:
The possibility of a paved connection between Salto de la Cabra and Jitu de Escarandi should not be totally dismissed. It's true that the existing goat path goes through the heart of a highly protected area in the National Park of Picos de Europa. But that would be the only possibility to get by road to the Cantabrian village of Tresviso. As of today, Tresviso can only be accessed by car from Asturias through Jitu de Escarandi and the 3kms section between the ast Asturian village (Sotres) and the Cantabrian border is not very well maintained by the Asturian regional and local government.
- Jul 27, 2009
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If the Giro can do a gravel road mtt up to the Kronplatz, why can't the Vuelta do a mtt from Granada up to posiciones del Veleta!?
Re:
Because it's in a National Park and access to motor vehicles is restricted after Hoya de la Mora (2510m) to the service vehicles of the Park, the Radiotelescope and the Ski station.staubsauger said:If the Giro can do a gravel road mtt up to the Kronplatz, why can't the Vuelta do a mtt from Granada up to posiciones del Veleta!?
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