Leon all Borders – Stage 5

– Sunday, August 10th, 2014 –

Yesterday was great: Angliru climb and Vegarada visit. But today I’ll share landscapes, slopes and efforts in company of Alfredo and Javi. Best way to conclude an awesome cycling weekend

I wake up at 7:00 AM and pack my stuff. When I leave the hotel room, I find a plastic bag with fruits, drinks and biscuits on the door. What a surprise! I didn’t want the waitress prepares me the breakfast so early in the morning, and moreover on a Sunday… Thus I guess she needed somehow to return my action. Appreciate it.

From Moreda, the travel to San Emiliano is short thanks to the AP-66 highway. When road it’s in good conditions, it’s always a pleasure to drive the mountainous section of this highway between Asturias and León. I reach San Emiliano soon, park and greet my 2 friends. Everything is set up to start the stage.

You can get the track for this route under next link: Stage_5.kml. If you prefer, map and profile are below:

In Pinos, the trail road to Alto de la Cubilla starts. I’m surprised about the pretty good conditions of the trail, compact and without noticeable stones. The bike is going smooth. Low slopes also help There are only 2 complicated points for a road bike: the 2 small water streams  (check photo below). Skipping this fact, it’s easy to get Casa Mieres, where the asphalt comes back again. We are on the top quickly. What a landscape!

Downhill is fun: hairpins, technical sections,… and more than 25 km. Without taking into account the altitude, this pass could be compared with the long alpine cols. In Pola de Lena, we stop to have a drink. I think we all internally have in mind the next climb: Cobertoria + continuation to Gamoniteiro antennas.

The uphill is very tough. Several kms have an average slope around 10%. In addition, good pavement and long straights make the climb mentally hard. Once we take the narrow road to head Gamoniteiro, slope lowers considerably during 1 km. After, difficulties appear again but the mood is high. We see several shepherds, goats, … but no one cyclist. We are on the top road of Asturias!!

The downhill to Santa Marina (Bárzana) is fast. However, I notice a strange noise (the same as the one observed a couple of months ago when training in Galicia). I look down and see the chain is bent when I don’t pedal. Some days later, the mechanic will inform me the problem comes from the core of the wheel.

The sterrato section of Trobaniello starts in Buendía. Generally speaking, the trail is in acceptable conditions for a road bike; having some short sections of cement. The climb itself is mostly under a green and dense forest. Very recommended to cycle or to take a walk. The trail gets worse just before reach the top and start the false downhill to Puerto Ventana. During this last part, the bike slips considerably due to the gravel. The maximum gear I used was 34×26.

Once in Puerto Ventana, the return to San Emiliano is easy, almost all is downhill.

Thanks to Alfredo and Javi to cycle with me during this great stage

In the following gallery, several pictures to summarize this wonderful Sunday: