The Vuelta starts in August in Utrecht. That is something many Dutch people are now clearly becoming aware of. The #Vamosholanda is becoming increasingly shared, and the organization is also increasingly focusing on activation. The Spanish regions are also active in promoting it. Several regions are presenting themselves to the coming weeks in Utrecht In a pop-up store during the Sustainable Vuelta Weeks. A beautiful addition to the sustainable theme of La Vuelta Holanda. What stands out is that some regions that are less well known for cycling are explicitly seeking the spotlight. Among them is the region of Aragón in the northeast. With the capital Zaragoza, this is a region often overlooked. Is it justified? We at least explored where to cycle in this region. The result? 5x climbing in unfamiliar Aragón.
Pico del Buitre: definition of a goat trail
When you think of Spain and the Vuelta, you immediately see the massive climb of the Alto de Angliru For you. In Aragón, they put a lot of effort into the Pico del Buitre. Admittedly, it is less steep and rugged than other goat trails, but with twelve kilometers and an average of 7.5 percent, where the last five kilometers reach over 10 percent, this is rightly considered a good goat trail. In the 2019 Vuelta, Angèl Madrazo was the first to reach the top.
Puerto del Portalet – a long runner in the Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are not known for their easy climbs. They are irregular, steep, and then again flat. That’s a nice summary. The Aragon region also extends to the Pyrenees and there you’ll find the Spanish side of Puerto del Portalet. It’s a long 27-kilometer route that actually has two parts. A 6-kilometer stretch that’s somewhat irregular, then a few kilometers of flat terrain and then back up the long climb to the top. Nowhere is it the most challenging part, and yet you’re in the notorious Pyrenees. This really could have been less. The climb itself isn’t particularly inspiring, just like the top. But hey, after the descent there’s a wonderful amount of tapas waiting for you in Beiscas. Enjoying it, right?
The ideal training climb: Puerto de Mosqueruela
What is now an ideal training climb? One that goes up about 5 percent, doesn’t have too much variation, and is a maximum of 10 kilometers long. A nice 20-30 minute effort. The Puerto de Mosquerela seems to be built for it. With 8300 meters, a nice length, an average ascent of 4.7 percent, and nowhere steeper than seven percent. You have a short and a very long variant, but if you choose the short one, you have the perfect training climb. If you also drive a little further, it gets steeper, more irregular, and maybe even more beautiful. Who knows? Stop for something to eat in the village! One final note: the road surface might need a touch of new asphalt. A knee problem that starts there.
Where’s Wout: Puerto de Linares
Poels at his best. That was in 2019 when (later) he was assigned the route to the aforementioned Angliru. Always a shame, but in that Vuelta of 2019 Wout was very strong. And that was also evident by the fact that he came out on top on several cols. Among other things, on the Puerto de Linares, in the southern tip of Aragon. You can definitely pick up your climbing heart here, because from Linares you have several options; see the route below. However, the Puerto de Linares is the best and perhaps the toughest of the options. Also note that you are working at an altitude of 1500 meters here. It will therefore be serious climbing. After the climb, the food in La Venta in Linares will be delicious. The climb to Valdelinares (and especially the ski resort) is also the highest point of Aragon.
Vuelta favorite: Monrepos
The climb in Aragón that has most often been passed during the Vuelta is called (in translation) ‘my rest, my moment of rest’. For a good ten kilometers with an average of five percent, I still don’t really see the rest. For a professional cyclist, it will be a bit of warming up, but still. The route hasn’t appeared in the Vuelta for some time now. What exactly the reason for that is remains unclear to me. The tunnels, but also the partly ‘abandoned’ first part, could be an indication of that. Yet it seems to be mainly a matter of euros.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.