At the roundabout at the entrance to Pola de Lena, there is a monolith indicating the kilometers remaining to each of its legendary mountain passes; so if you are passionate about mountain bike tourism And if you plan a few days of "rest" in these parts, know that you can leave your accommodation every morning in one direction or another, until you complete all the ascents (or as many as you can afford).
Cycling tradition
Although it all began in the mid-20th century—with figures like Julio Jiménez and Bahamontes competing in races in the area—it is in recent decades that Lena has exploded as one of the venues for national cycling. The Vuelta a los Valles Mineros (Tour of the Mining Valleys) passes through it, The Cycling Tour of the Central Mountains of Asturias, The Tour of Asturias or The Tour of SpainThe latter has passed through the landscapes of Lena on more than thirty occasions, with stage finishes in Pajares, La Cobertoria, the La Cubilla pass, El Gamoniteiru or El Cuitu Negru.
Furthermore, great chapters of the race have been written here, among the most remembered the spectacular fall of Alex Zülle in 1993, when descending La Cobertoria he said goodbye to his chances of winning La Vuelta in favor of Rominger.
If we add to the feats of cycling the beauty of the routes in full Natural Park of Las Ubiñas-La Mesa (Beautiful native forests alternate with large, craggy peaks connected by quiet roads), it is no wonder that the pilgrimage of enthusiasts to this promised land is continuous.
Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park
Is a magnificent mountain territory with a relief of strong contrasts, located in the… Read more
According to data from tourism associations, revenue from cycle tourism (including overnight stays and restaurant services) represents more than 65% of total hospitality income in this area. This figure is significantly higher than the revenue generated by snow sports, which is no small matter in Lena, as it is home to the Valgrande-Pajare ski resorts, being very close also to that of San Isidro, in the neighboring council of Aller.
Skiing in Asturias
The three enclaves have great facilities to enjoy the snow and allow guests to stay… Read more
In this region, the bicycle is a major economic driver. And a sustainable one, with the environmental awareness that are encouraged by the cyclists themselves.
High-altitude cycle touring
Those who come to ride in Lena do so because they love the mountains. With each pedal stroke, they climb those peaks that give meaning to their journey. For them, the allure of the views they leave behind rivals the rewarding effort of continuing to push upwards. Upon reaching the summit, they always promise themselves to repeat the feat. That's why the mountain passes of Lena are not just a test of endurance, but an ascent to the very essence of cycling.
There they are Cuitu Negru with its 23,5 kilometers at 6,1% and ramps at 25%. The Cubilla28 kilometers at 4,7%. The Covering10 kilometers at 8,5%. The Cordal5,6 kilometers at 9%. The Cuchu Puercu (via the Cordal): 11 kilometers at 6,9%. And very close by, other legendary climbs such as The Gamoniteiru: 20,2 kilometers at 7,2% (the summit belongs to Quirós, but the ascent passes through Lena), or the very AngliruIt is possible to organize a climb to this colossus also starting from Lena and after ascending the Cordal, a short but tough pass, which serves as an appetizer to the ramps that we will find afterwards, in the area of 20% (be careful with the descents as the rims get excessively hot).
Alto del Gamoniteiro
Gamoniteiru had always been up there, unnoticed, with its unmistakable… Read more
The Port of Angliru
There are passes and then there are mountain passes. When it comes to climbing them on foot with livestock, or by bicycle, we can… Read more
The major mountain passes, combined with the numerous route variations and the different approaches from which to attack the summits, have gradually led to the creation of circuits that are more complete and demanding than the climbs themselves. Here we propose, for example, a "Lena stage" for the brave, 125 kilometers, four mountain passes and 4.000 meters of accumulated elevation gain, with initial ascent through Pajares, followed by Carabanzo, Cuchu Puercu and final at the top of La Cubilla.
Precisely the "La Cubilla" Cycling Tour It is one of the most popular events on the Asturian calendar. It is held every year in May and attracts fans from all over Europe.
Alto de la Cubilla
Going up to this pass is reaching one of the peaks of the Asturian landscape. Cycling fans will… Read more
If you like this sport, you can't miss it. You'll definitely get hooked and gradually tackle the challenges this region has to offer.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
