The Vuelta will start in Utrecht in August. This is now becoming clear to many in the Netherlands. The #vamosholanda is increasingly being shared and the organisation is also putting more and more effort into activation. Spanish regions are also active in promotion. Several regions are presenting themselves the coming weeks in Utrecht in a pop-up store during the Sustainable Vuelta Weeks. A nice catch-up on the sustainable theme of La Vuelta Holanda. What stands out, some regions slightly less known for cycling emphatically seek the spotlight. Among them, the region of Aragón, in the north-east. With its capital Zaragoza, this is an often forgotten region. Unjustly so? In any case, we sought out where to go cycling in this region. The result? 5x climbs in unknown Aragon.
Pico del Buitre: definition of a goat trail
When you think of Spain and the Vuelta, the mega-steep climb of the Alto de l'Angliru for you. In Aragon, they do a nice job with the Pico del Buitre. Granted, it is less steep and fierce than other goat trails, but with 12 kilometres and 7.5 per cent average, with the last five kilometres getting above 10 per cent, this can rightly be called 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 nice running climbs. Irregular, steep and then flat again. Short, nippy and gruelling. That pretty much sums it up. The region of Aragon also runs up to the Pyrenees and that's where you'll find the Spanish side of the Puerto del Portalet. A long run of 27 kilometres that actually has two parts. A 6-kilometre run-up that is somewhat irregular, then a flat section of a few kilometres and then the long climb up to the top again. Nowhere is it mega-steep and yet you are in the infamous Pyrenees. This really could be less. The climb itself is not hyper inspiring, as is the summit. But oh well, after the descent, a delicious amount of tapas awaits you in Beiscas. Enjoy it, right?
The ideal training climb: Puerto de Mosqueruela
So what is an ideal training climb? One that is about 5 per cent uphill, not too much variation and say 10 kilometres long at most. A nice 20-30 minute effort. The Puerto de Mosquerela seems to be built for it. At 8,300 metres, a nice length, 4.7 per cent average ascent and nowhere steeper than seven per cent. You have a short and a very long version, but if you choose the short side you have the perfect training climb. If you ride even a little further, it immediately gets steeper, more irregular and perhaps more beautiful. Who knows. Stop for something to eat in the village! Only note: the road surface could do with a lick of new tarmac. But who cares.
Where's Wout: Puerto de Linares
Poels in his best days. That was in 2019 when (in retrospect) he was awarded the stage to the aforementioned Angliru. Always unfortunate, but in that 2019 Vuelta, Wout was very strong. And that spoke volumes from the fact that he came first on several cols. So, among others, on the Puerto de Linares, in the southern tip of Aragon. Here you can get your climbing heart racing anyway, as there are several possibilities from Linares, see also the route below. However, the Puerto de Linares is the finest and perhaps the toughest of the options. Also note that you are working above 1,500 metres here. So it will be serious climbing. Afterwards, dinner at La Venta in Linares de Moro will taste delicious. The climb to Valdelinares (and especially the ski station) is also the highest point in Aragon.
Vuelta favourite: Monrepos
The climb in Aragon that has passed by most often in the Vuelta is called (in translation) 'my rest, my rest moment'. For a good ten kilometres at five per cent average, I personally don't really see the rest yet. For a pro cyclist or rider, it will take some warming up, but still. The route has not featured in the Vuelta for some time. What exactly is the reason for that is still unclear to me. The tunnels, but also the partly 'abandoned' first section could be an indication of that. Still, it seems mainly a question of euros.
