Alto de la Ermita del Alba
Spain, europe
2 km
1,150 m
hard
Year-round
# Alto de la Ermita del Alba
Buckle up for one seriously intense climb! Located in Asturias, Spain, this mountain pass sits at 1,150m and will absolutely test your legs (or your car's engine). We're talking about a relentless 6.8-kilometre grind with an average gradient of 11%, but here's the kicker – some sections hit a jaw-dropping 21.67%.
The road itself is mostly asphalted, though it switches to concrete near the top, and it's narrow enough to keep you focused. You'll face some brutal ramps early on, but the real monster appears around the 4km mark with that insane 21.67% pitch. Just when you think you've survived the worst, the remaining kilometres throw sections of 15.6% and 14.75% at you to keep things interesting.
The payoff? A charming little church at the summit – the Santuario de la Virgen de Alba – makes for a rewarding photo stop. This climb has earned its stripes as a featured stage in Spain's prestigious Vuelta race, and pro cyclists have weighed in on its character. One former Spanish racer, Chechu Rubiera, compared it to Italy's famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo while noting it's less brutal than the notorious Angliru. Translation: it's genuinely tough, but there are moments to recover – unlike some of those truly savage climbs.
Where is it?
Alto de la Ermita del Alba is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 39.8640, -4.4246
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 2 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,150 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 39.8640, -4.4246
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