20.5
PDI
10.1 mi
DISTANCE
3,444 ft
GAINED
6.3 %
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. From Guadalupe to the summit crag is 16.3 km (10.1 mi) at a 6.3% average, with 1,050 m (3,444 ft) of gain. The first two kilometers are the first test (5.4% and 8.0%), then the grade backs off to 4.4-4.7% around kilometers 4-6 before building again.
The hardest stretch is near 9-10 km, and the steepest 1 km averages 10.9%. The steepest 2 km average 8.9%, the steepest 5 km 7.1% and the steepest 10 km 6.6%. After a roughly 3.6% breather at 10-11 km the road holds 5-7% to the last kilometer, then finishes with a ramp of about 14% over the final 300 m. Save something for that last pitch.
Roadway: The road is paved all the way to the top, but the surface is described as irregular, and the climb has no single steady grade. The summit area has an abandoned military base and a helipad, and the road is open to cars as well as bikes. Summers are hot in southern Cáceres - the 2021 Vuelta stage was ridden in about 30 degrees, and early autumn can be just as warm - so plan the climb for morning or the cooler shoulder seasons.
Traffic: The road serves the summit and the geopark lookouts rather than through traffic, so the people you share it with are mainly visitors: hikers, geotourists, stargazers and other cyclists.
Parking: Guadalupe is a small town (about 1,800 residents) built around the Real Monasterio, and the start is roughly 1.5 km east of the old center, so leave the car at your lodging or near the town and ride out. The Ermita del Humilladero, a 15th-century Mudéjar hermitage on the edge of Guadalupe, is another access point for the peak.
Provisions: There is nothing to buy on the climb, so fill two bottles in Guadalupe and add more if you ride in summer. Eat before you start: the Parador restaurant and the Mesón El Zaguán (closed Mondays) in town serve migas and morcilla.
Gear: A compact crankset with a 30-34 tooth largest sprocket covers the 10% kilometers and the final 14% ramp. Bring sun protection and a light layer for the exposed summit crag, which is windier and cooler than the valley.
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.
Guadalupe is the reason to plan a stay rather than a quick ride. The Real Monasterio de Santa María de Guadalupe, a 14th-15th century Jerónimo monastery, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993, and part of the complex is now the Parador de Guadalupe, where the restaurant serves local dishes such as migas, zorongollo and the Guadalupe tomato soup. The town square, Plaza de Santa María de Guadalupe, is the center of the village and a good place for a post-ride meal.
The whole massif is the Villuercas-Ibores-Jara geopark, part of the European and Global Geoparks Networks, with sierras and parallel valleys, and paleontological sites with materials about 560 million years old. If you want more riding, the neighboring approaches have their own pages: the shorter west side from Navezuelas, the Puerto Berzocana climb, and the short Arroyo de Valhondo climb that also starts from Guadalupe. Before heading out for the summit, check the forecast with our Weather tool.
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