EPIC Trans Cantabrian Mountains
EPIC Trans Cantabrian Mountains
Ride across the dramatic Cordillera Cantabrica, home to Spain’s most challenging climbs
Conquer the legendary climbs of the Vuelta a España in this incredible week of cycling in the Cordillera Cantabrica. Includes Lagos de Covadonga and the Angliru, the toughest climb in pro cycling.
Featured Climbs
Alto El Angliru, Lagos de Covadonga, Puerto de la Sia, Puerto de San Glorio
Overview
Details
Next Departure
August 10th 2024
From
USD $4,795
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
No
Rental Bike
USD $550
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
Thomson Bike Tours is uniquely qualified to introduce you to this mind-blowing Grand Tour terrain. Spain is our back-yard and the Cantabrian mountain chain is our favourite playground.
Home to the legendary climbs of the Vuelta a España, the Cordillera Cantabrica is a staggeringly beautiful mountain range that runs along the North Coast of Spain, from the Basque Country to Galicia. Highlights of the week include the opportunity to conquer the notorious Alto el Angliru, the toughest climb in professional cycling, and the spectacular Lagos de Covadonga, voted by many of our guests as their favourite climb ever.
The Cordillera Cantabrica mountain range, with it’s non-existent traffic and extreme geographic profile, is one of the best kept secrets in European cycling!
Ron Famiglietti, USA — 2019
Gary Redekop, Canada — 2022
James Clark, USA — 2018
Itinerary
| Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Bienvenidos a España! | Gran Hotel Balneario De Puente Viesgo | |||
| 02 | Vuelta a España Favorites | Gran Hotel Balneario De Puente Viesgo | |||
| 03 | The spectacular Collado de Hoz | Parador de Fuente De | |||
| 04 | Picos de Europa | Parador de Cangas de Onís | |||
| 05 | Lagos de Covadonga | Parador de Cangas de Onís | |||
| 06 | Through the mountains of Asturias | Hotel Las Caldas | |||
| 07 | The Angliru! | Hotel Las Caldas | |||
| 08 | Adios! | ||||
| Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Bienvenidos a España!
Your trip starts at Bilbao airport where our staff will meet you before the short transfer to your first hotel.
After lunch, orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll get your first taste of riding in Cantabria. Our warm-up ride takes you alongside the River Pas to the town of Vega where your first Cantabrian climb awaits, the 6.7km Puerto de la Braguia.
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
Vuelta a España Favorites
Considered one of our Top 5 European rides by our ride leaders! The route is classic Vuelta a España terrain with each of the climbs having featured many times in the Spanish Grand Tour. The scenery is absolutely stunning and you’ll see very little traffic throughout the entire ride. It’s a gem of a ride that you’ll cherish long after you return home.
Tip: The Puerto de la Sia comes in the middle of the ride. It’s 21km (13 miles) and you’ll want to take it easy on this one, leave something in the legs for the last climb of the day (it’s steep!).
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
The spectacular Collado de Hoz
Today’s ride features the final 84km (52 miles) from the route of the dramatic Stage 17 of the 2012 Vuelta a España, when Alberto Contador laid the perfect ambush to win the stage and take over the race leader´s jersey. A really stunning ride, over 3 short climbs lined with forests of eucalyptus trees, followed by a magnificent route through La Hermida canyon.
Tip: make sure you take the cable car ride from the Hotel Fuente De to the surrounding mountain ridge. The cable car ascends to 1823m (6500ft) in just 4 minutes and the views from the top are breathtaking!
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Map & Profile
| Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Puerto de la Braguia from Vega de Pas |
5.9% | 3 | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
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| Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Puerto de Alisas from La Cavada |
4.8% | 2 | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
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>15
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|
Puerto de la Sia from Arredondo |
5.5% | HC | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
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|
Portillo de Lunada from Las Machorras |
5% | 3 | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
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|
Alto El Caracol from CA-643 |
7% | 2 | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
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| Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Collado de Carmona from Valle de Cabuerniga |
7.2% | 3 | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
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|
Collado de Ozalba from Puentenansa |
6.7% | 3 | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
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|
Collado de Hoz from Sobrelapena |
5.7% | 2 | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
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|
Fuente De from Potes |
3.7% | 2 | ||
|
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
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>15
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Climbs
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Climbs
Dates & Prices
| Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | |||||||
|
Closed
|
Aug 13 - 20 |
Closed |
USD $4,495
|
USD $800 |
USD $840 |
||
| 2024 | |||||||
Aug 10 - 17 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $4,795
|
USD $850 |
USD $900 |
Book this trip | |
Waiting List
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Trip Hotels
What's Included
| What's Included | What's Not Included |
|---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
|
| What's Included |
|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
| What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
| Pickup Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Bilbao Airport |
9:00am |
OR |
|
|
Holiday Inn Express Bilbao Airport |
9:00am |
Departure
| Drop Off Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Bilbao Airport |
11:00am |
Rental Bikes
Frame
Felt FR Advanced
Groupset
2023 SRAM Force AXS 12-speed
Weight
7.7kg (size 53)
Wheels
Reynolds AR46 DB Custom
Chainrings
48x35
Cassette
10-33
Sizes
47, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61
Price
USD $550
EPIC Trans Cantabrian Mountains
Conquer the legendary climbs of the Vuelta a España on our epic trip across the Cantabrian Mountains
