28.2
PDI
7.2 mi
DISTANCE
3,568 ft
GAINED
9.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Puerto de Ancares (Pan do Zarco) climbs 11.6 km (7.2 mi) at a 9.5% average grade, gaining 1,088 m (3,568 ft) from about 403 m (1,323 ft) up to 1,491 m (4,890 ft). The climb ramps up quickly and stays hard through the middle: the steepest kilometer and steepest 2 km both average 14.7%, easing to 12.1% through 5 km and 9.4% through 10 km as the grade relents closer to the pass.
Roadway: The road is paved for essentially the entire climb. A stretch in the middle section has a rougher, finer-aggregate surface than the smooth asphalt on either side - not gravel in the dirt-road sense, but noticeably coarser, so traction can get squirrely if you're out of the saddle on the steeper ramps there. Like most passes in the Ancares range, this road typically closes with the season's first heavy snow and reopens in spring, so check current conditions if you're riding outside summer.
Traffic: Very light - this is a remote mountain road through a sparsely populated comarca, with little reason for through-traffic beyond local access and the occasional cyclist chasing the Contador-Froome legend.
Parking: Park near Murias at the base of the climb; there's no dedicated cyclist lot, but the village has ordinary roadside parking.
Provisions: There's little in the way of services on the mountain itself - stock up in Becerreá or Navia de Suarna, the nearest towns with real grocery stores and cafes, before heading up.
Gear: A compact chainring and a wide-range cassette are a good idea given the sustained double-digit grades through the climb's middle section. If you're riding through the rougher mid-climb surface, slightly wider tires than a pure race setup will help with grip.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Os Ancares is worth extending your trip for - the Serra dos Ancares was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2006, and the village of Piornedo (a scenic detour from the area, though not directly on this climb) preserves some of the last pallozas still standing - circular stone huts with thatched roofs that housed people and livestock together until the 1970s.
This climb earned its "Spanish Mortirolo" reputation at the 2014 Vuelta a España, when Alberto Contador beat Chris Froome to the summit by 0.16 seconds on Stage 20. Two other routes up the same mountain - from Murias directly and from Navia de Suarna - offer easier alternatives if you want to see the pass without the steepest pitches. See our Routes in the Area tool to compare them.
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