Alto de la Cubilla

Latitude: 42.9906387 Length: -5.9053030
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The Alto de La Cubilla rises in the heart of the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park , one of the Biosphere Reserves of the Principality of Asturias. Located in the central Cantabrian Mountains, this park, relatively unknown to the general public, boasts an outstanding environment, alternating between vast native forests and numerous craggy peaks. Towering above them all is the awe-inspiring Peña Ubiña , the queen of the massif, with its 2.417 meters of altitude.

The summit of La Cubilla stands at an altitude of 1683 meters , and to reach it, one must travel approximately thirty kilometers from the lowest point, climbing a considerable 1.300 meters along the way . A worthy challenge that has already served as a stage finish in the Vuelta a España cycling race.

In the council of Lena there are a good number of mythical climbs, famous for having been part of stages of professional cycling events and which, year after year, attract numerous mountain bike tourism enthusiasts.

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Ascent to the port of La Cubilla

The most common ways to tackle this route are by bicycle, motorcycle, or car. Everyone will find advantages to one vehicle or another, but it's the cyclists who rave about this climb, closely followed by the motorcyclists . The former are often thrilled by the effort involved and the beauty of the route, while the latter maintain that from a car it's impossible to experience the fresh air of this mountain pass and the sense of freedom that a motorcycle provides.

In any case, the route the road takes, a long, sweeping zigzag that slowly climbs the hillside, amazes everyone equally, especially when we have reached the top and revel in the improbable route we have ascended: this winding road, like a colossal roller coaster (which on clear days we appreciate almost in its entirety), leaves a well-marked furrow on the natural carpet that enchants us with an intense green.

The climb begins in the village of Campomanes , five kilometers from Pola de Lena. The first part, about 10 kilometers, is relatively flat until reaching the village of Los Pontones, from where another 18 kilometers remain to reach the summit. The subsequent sections, passing through the villages of Telledo, Riospaso, and Tuiza, are surrounded by oak forests and involve constant gradients of 5% to 7%.

In Tuiza, we'll take a right turn towards the final stretch of the climb. The forest gradually recedes as the mountain range opens up, allowing us to see the summit and enjoy a clear panoramic view for the rest of the way. We continue along the hairpin bends so typical of this pass, encountering steeper sections, around 10%, in the last three kilometers.

La Cubilla and cycling

Although it's not a mountain pass with steep climbs, as is common in the Asturian mountains, it is a very long ascent, with gradients that aren't excessively steep but are prolonged and sustained; this often leads to comparisons with the Alpine and Pyrenean passes we usually see in the Tour de France. In fact, many know it as the Asturian Tourmalet.

We're talking about a challenging 28-kilometer climb that demands a more than reasonable level of fitness. It's a route that's gaining popularity and has become a pilgrimage site for cycling enthusiasts from all over. Its devotees insist it's a cyclist's paradise. The most beautiful climb in all of Asturias, they maintain time and again. And indeed, the passion for La Cubilla has been cultivated for decades.

In 1965, a group of cyclists from Mieres, Figaredo, and Moreda met in Campomanes to climb the mountain pass together. This first cycling tour was the first of many, and these events gained widespread popularity in the 80s and 90s thanks to the organization of these rides by the Santa Cristina de Lena cycling club. Professional cycling would later arrive at the summit. The Vuelta a La Montaña Central de Asturias (Tour of the Central Mountains of Asturias) chose it as its queen stage in 2002. The Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) made its debut at La Cubilla in 2019, with Danish cyclist Jakob Fuglsang winning the stage.

Many cycling enthusiasts, as well as renowned professionals like Chechu Rubiera, Santi Pérez, Ricardo Valdés, Samuel Sánchez, Dani Navarro, Iván Cortina, Alicia and Lucía González, Aida Nuño, and others, choose the Cubilla climb for their training . Furthermore, training sessions on other impressive mountain passes—Cobertoria, Cordal, Cuchu Puercu, Carabanzo, Pajares—can be linked up very close to this climb.

In the Alto de la Cubilla

However you get there, parking is never a problem. La Cubilla is an iconic mountain pass that crosses the Cantabrian Mountains, linking the provinces of Asturias and León. Located in the majestic Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park, the pass descends on the León side to the equally majestic Babia y Luna Natural Park.

The pass is surrounded by legendary mountains such as La Tesa, La Mesa, La Almagrera, El Fariñentu, Los Fontanes, and the majestic Peña Ubiña. If you're in good physical condition, you can climb some of these peaks, or simply enjoy a pleasant stroll among the cattle in the meadows of the pass on the Leonese side, or venture further afield to the Ballota mountain pastures in the Asturian municipality of Lena. Finally, you can simply dedicate yourself to observation, allowing yourself to be enveloped by absolute peace and a breathtaking landscape.