The Angliru: The Hardest Climb in Professional Cycling
Asturias, Spain
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Angliru
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400
XP
+100 Spain
= 500 total
1 day
The Angliru: The Hardest Climb in Professional Cycling
400 + 100 XP
Until the late 1990s the Angliru was known to local cattle farmers and walkers and nobody else. In 1996 an Asturian looking for a summit finish to rival the Lagos de Covadonga suggested it, Riosa council surfaced the road in 1997, and the Vuelta went up it in 1999. It ramps to 23.5% at the Cueña les Cabres and is reckoned among the hardest surfaced climbs in world cycling, mentioned in the same breath as the Gamoniteiro next door, the Mortirolo and the Zoncolan. Chava Jiménez won that first stage out of the fog. A sign at the bottom now calls it the Olympus of cycling.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Ride it, if you can — and find the Cueña les Cabres, where it hits 23.5%
2
of 5
Work out what gearing you actually need before you start, because there is nowhere to stop and change your mind
3
of 5
Find the sign at La Vega-Riosa that calls the climb the Olympus of cycling
4
of 5
Find out what happened on the first Vuelta ascent in 1999 and who came out of the fog to win it
5
of 5
Work out how recent all this is: a farm track until 1997, and one of the most feared climbs in the sport by 1999
Ride it, if you can — and find the Cueña les Cabres, where it hits 23.5%
Work out what gearing you actually need before you start, because there is nowhere to stop and change your mind
Find the sign at La Vega-Riosa that calls the climb the Olympus of cycling
Find out what happened on the first Vuelta ascent in 1999 and who came out of the fog to win it
Work out how recent all this is: a farm track until 1997, and one of the most feared climbs in the sport by 1999
Before you go
The upper road is narrow with no barrier and is frequently in cloud with very poor visibility. Descending it is more dangerous than climbing it. It can be closed by snow or ice.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
400 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
500 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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