18.7
PDI
5.2 mi
DISTANCE
2,443 ft
GAINED
9 %
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. Espinosa de los Monteros Picón Blanco is 8.3 km (5.2 mi) long and gains 745 m (2,443 ft) at an average grade of 9.0%, from 756 m (2,480 ft) in Espinosa de los Monteros to 1,501 m (4,923 ft) on the summit plateau.
The first kilometer out of town is the only real warm-up, averaging about 6.1%. Kilometers 2 and 3 settle in at just under 9%, and then the climb hits its hardest stretch: km 4 averages about 9.8%, km 5 about 10.5% and km 6 about 10.0%. The grade backs off only slightly to 9.0-9.4% through km 7 and 8, and the final few hundred meters to the top ease to about 7%.
The steepest 500 m averages 14.2%, the steepest 1 km 12.4%, the steepest 2 km 11.2% and the steepest 5 km 10.2%, with short ramps touching 17%. Because the road is so straight, you can often see the gradient stretching out ahead - pacing, not a big final effort, is what gets you up this one.
Roadway: Paved the entire way. Above the edge of Espinosa the climb follows a narrow, mostly straight access road built to serve the wind farm on the summit plateau, with roadside cycling signs marking distance and gradient. Near the top, a concrete-surfaced turnoff leads through the final two bends to the summit parking area. Fog can settle over the summit and limit visibility, so carry lights and take extra care on the descent if the cloud is down.
Traffic: Very light - this is a dead-end service road, and through traffic over the ridge uses the lower Portillo de la Sía to the west. Expect mostly other cyclists, plus the occasional wind farm maintenance vehicle.
Parking: Park in the center of Espinosa de los Monteros, around the main square, Plaza de Sancho García, and roll out from there - the climb leaves town via Calle de los Monteros and Calle Pumarejo before turning uphill. There's also a parking area at the summit plateau if you'd rather drive up to watch a race finish or start a ride along the ridge.
Espinosa de los Monteros is your last stop for food and water - there are no services on the climb or at the summit, so stock up in town before you start. With 5 km at 10% and short ramps near 17%, a compact crankset with a 30- to 32-tooth large cog is worth having even for strong riders. The summit sits at 1,501 m (4,923 ft) on an exposed, wind-farm ridge where conditions can turn cold and foggy quickly, so pack a wind layer for the descent no matter how warm it feels in town.
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.
Espinosa de los Monteros takes its name from the Monteros de Espinosa, a royal guard instituted by Count Sancho García of Castile whose members - required to be hidalgos born in Espinosa - guarded the Castilian monarchs' chambers at night. The guard was disbanded during the Second Republic, but the town still stages an annual historical reenactment, De Espinosa, los Monteros, at the church of Santa Cecilia. Fortified towers dot the old town, including the 14th-century Torre de los Monteros and the Torre de los Velasco.
This is dairy country, and the local mantequilla (butter), cheeses and sobaos are worth seeking out after the ride. If you have more time, the Ojo Guareña natural area and its cave system lie just to the south, and the glacial Valle de Lunada is a short drive into the mountains. The area is also close to other hard climbs, including Alto de los Machucos and Puerto de Bocos - see the nearby options on our Routes in the Area tool.
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