EPIC Trans Cantabrian Mountains
EPIC Trans Cantabrian Mountains
Ride across the dramatic Cordillera Cantabrica, home to Spain’s most challenging climbs
Conquer the legendary climbs of the Vuelta a España in this incredible week of cycling in the Cordillera Cantabrica. Includes Lagos de Covadonga and the Angliru, the toughest climb in pro cycling.
Featured Climbs
Alto El Angliru, Lagos de Covadonga, Puerto de la Sia, Puerto de San Glorio
Overview
Details
Next Departure
August 9th 2025
From
USD $4,895
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
No
Rental Bike
USD $550
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
Thomson Bike Tours is uniquely qualified to introduce you to this mind-blowing Grand Tour terrain. Spain is our back-yard and the Cantabrian mountain chain is our favourite playground.
Home to the legendary climbs of the Vuelta a España, the Cordillera Cantabrica is a staggeringly beautiful mountain range that runs along the North Coast of Spain, from the Basque Country to Galicia. Highlights of the week include the opportunity to conquer the notorious Alto el Angliru, the toughest climb in professional cycling, and the spectacular Lagos de Covadonga, voted by many of our guests as their favourite climb ever.
The Cordillera Cantabrica mountain range, with its non-existent traffic and extreme geographic profile, is one of the best kept secrets in European cycling!
Ron Famiglietti, USA — 2019
Lawrence Saunders, Canada — 2022
Drake Powell, USA — 2022
Itinerary
Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | Bienvenidos a España! | Castilla Termal Solares | |||
02 | Vuelta a España Favorites | Castilla Termal Solares | |||
03 | The spectacular Collado de Hoz | Parador de Fuente De | |||
04 | Picos de Europa | Parador de Cangas de Onís | |||
05 | Lagos de Covadonga | Parador de Cangas de Onís | |||
06 | Through the mountains of Asturias | Hotel Las Caldas | |||
07 | The Angliru! | Hotel Las Caldas | |||
08 | Adios! | ||||
Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Bienvenidos a España!
Your trip starts at Bilbao Airport where our staff will meet you before the short transfer to your first hotel.
After lunch, an orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll get your first taste of riding with a beautiful warm-up ride through the Cantabrian countryside.
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
Vuelta a España Favorites
Considered one of our Top 5 European rides by our ride leaders! The route is classic Vuelta a España terrain with each of the climbs having featured many times in the Spanish Grand Tour. The scenery is absolutely stunning and you’ll see very little traffic throughout the entire ride. It’s a gem of a ride that you’ll cherish long after you return home.
Tip: The Puerto de la Sia comes 25km into the ride. It’s a long climb (21km) so make sure you take it easy on this one. You’ll need to leave something in the legs for the last climb of the day, the Alto el Caracol (it’s steep!).
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
The spectacular Collado de Hoz
Today’s ride features the final 84km (52 miles) from the route of the dramatic Stage 17 of the 2012 Vuelta a España, when Alberto Contador laid the perfect ambush to win the stage and take over the race leader´s jersey. A really stunning ride, over 3 short climbs lined with forests of eucalyptus trees, followed by a magnificent route through La Hermida canyon.
Tip: make sure you take the cable car ride from the Hotel Fuente Dé to the surrounding mountain ridge. The cable car ascends to 1823m (6500ft) in just 4 minutes and the views from the top are breathtaking!
Day 4
Distance
Elevation
Picos de Europa
Today you’ll ride through the Picos de Europa National Park – a magnificent remote wilderness region and home to the last population of brown bears in Western Europe. The highlight of the day is the 27km (17 miles) climb to the Puerto San Glorio. From the San Glorio you’ll ride into the Picos National Park on a traffic-free, single-lane road, with stunning views at every corner. The ride ends with a 50km (31 miles) descent to our hotel in Cangas de Onis!
Tip: enjoy the descent, it’s not every day that you get to descend for 50km (31 miles).
Day 5
Distance
Elevation
Lagos de Covadonga
With magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the rugged peaks of the Picos de Europa filling the landscape to the south, Lagos de Covadonga is a unique climb. Little wonder that many of our repeat guests rate it as their all-time favorite climb. After Covadonga, continue on a beautiful loop that winds its way over the Alto del Torno and down to the Atlantic Ocean.
Tip: Cangas de Onis is well worth a visit after the ride. Check out the 13th century Puente Romano and try some tapas and cider at a local bar.
Day 6
Distance
Elevation
Through the mountains of Asturias
A magnificent ride today through rural Asturias, one of the top road cycling regions of Spain. Three categorised climbs lie between Cangas de Onis and our destination in Las Caldas. The scenery is stunning, with green, rolling hills at the start of the ride gradually evolving into higher and rugged peaks as we approach the mountains of the Asturian natural parks that hide a certain Alto el Angliru.
Tip: the terrain in Asturias is very challenging. With a big day (Angliru) on the agenda tomorrow, this is a day to ride easy and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
Day 7
Distance
Elevation
The Angliru!
The Angliru is considered the toughest climb in professional cycling and today is your chance to test your climbing legs on its dreaded slopes. From the hotel in Las Caldas, you’ll head out into the Asturian countryside for your final ride. A short climb will stretch the legs before we reach La Vega and the start of the Angliru.
Tip: the first 6km (4 miles) of the Angliru are “easy”. The climb starts in earnest at the 6km mark with the toughest section coming after 10km (6 miles). This section is called Cueña les Cabres, lasts for 450m and has ramps of 23.5%!
Day 8
Distance
Elevation
Adios!
Unfortunately, your trip across the Cantabrian Mountains has come to an end.
Our shuttle will drop you off at Bilbao Airport.
Map & Profile
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ermita del Cristo de Balaguer from Anero |
4% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
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Riaño from Solórzano |
5% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
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Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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Puerto de Alisas from La Cavada |
4.8% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
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Puerto de la Sia from Arredondo |
5.5% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
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Portillo de Lunada from Las Machorras |
5% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
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Alto El Caracol from CA-643 |
7% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
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Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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Collado de Carmona from Valle de Cabuerniga |
7.2% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
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Collado de Ozalba from Puentenansa |
6.7% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
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Collado de Hoz from Sobrelapena |
5.7% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
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Fuente De from Potes |
3.7% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
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Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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Puerto de San Glorio from Potes |
5.4% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
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Puerto de Pandetrave from Portilla de la Reina |
3.4% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
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Puerto de Panderruedas from Posada de Valdeon |
5.7% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
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Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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Lagos de Covadonga from Covadonga |
7.6% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
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Collado de Zardon from Corao |
4.4% | 4 | |||
Profile
Map
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Alto del Torno from Rinsena |
6.5% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
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Puerto del Mazuco from Parres |
6.7% | 2 | |||
Profile
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Collado de Igena from Mestas |
5.4% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
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Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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Alto de la Falla from San Julian |
5% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
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Altu de Santu Mianu from Langreo |
6% | 3 | |||
Profile
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El Cobollo from N-630 |
6% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
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Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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Alto El Angliru from La Vega |
9.5% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
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Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
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No major climbs today |
Climbs
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Climbs
Dates & Prices
Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | |||||||
Aug 9 - 16 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $4,895
|
USD $850 |
USD $920 |
Book this trip |
Waiting List
Sign up to the waiting list for this departure, to be notified if a space becomes available. Please fill out the information below:
Trip Hotels
Castilla Termal Solares
Parador de Fuente De
Parador de Cangas de Onís
Hotel Las Caldas
What's Included
What's Included | What's Not Included |
---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
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What's Included |
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Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
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What's Not Included |
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Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
Pickup Location | Time |
---|---|
Bilbao Airport |
9:00am |
OR |
|
Holiday Inn Express Bilbao Airport |
9:00am |
Departure
Drop Off Location | Time |
---|---|
Bilbao Airport |
11:00am |
Rental Bikes
Specialized Aethos Expert
Frame
Aethos FACT 10r Carbon
Groupset
Di2 Shimano Ultegra
Weight
699g (size 56)
Wheels
Roval C38
Chainrings
52/36T
Cassette
11-34t (12-speed)
Sizes
49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
USD $550
View DetailsEPIC Trans Cantabrian Mountains
Conquer the legendary climbs of the Vuelta a España on our epic trip across the Cantabrian Mountains