La Cubilla

If you’re looking for a high-mountain experience without the chaos of cars or the crowds of more famous passes, La Cubilla is your dream ride. Nestled in the heart of Asturias, this climb is compared to the Stelvio or the Galibier, and once you’ve seen it, you’ll understand why.

 

La Cubilla is an absolute jewel, and despite the billions of flies and potholes, it’s a magnificent ride that you must do when you’re in the neighbourhood.

Route

This out-and-back route from Mieres, or any other town south of Oviedo, offers a long, steady ascent into the Cordillera Cantábrica, with hairpins for days, dramatic limestone cliffs, and views that seem to go on forever.

 

The adventure begins in Mieres, a town in the steep valley towards Léon. You’ll roll out gently through the valley, riding parallel to the railway line and the highway, and following the Valle de Lena toward the mountains. Truth be told, the first part of this ride isn’t quite enjoyable. Luckily, it doesn’t take long before you spot the ridges in the distance, and realize you’re headed way up there.

 

Once you ride under the bridge, the road starts going up, and it just keeps going. You’re looking at 20 km of climbing, gaining around 1,300 meters of elevation, with an average gradient of just 5%. It’s long and tough, but it never gets brutal as its neighbouring climbs such as the fearsome Alto el Angliru.

 

The road is newly resurfaced (thanks to the passage of La Vuelta in 2019), and yet it’s in an appalling state. The road is littered with deep potholes, so keep your wits about you. Fortunately, it’s largely free of traffic.

 

What really sets this climb apart is its setting: the higher you go, the more you’re enveloped by jagged peaks, alpine meadows, and dramatic ravines. Also, cows (and cow dung!) may block the road near the summit. The final stretch is above the tree line, winding through a valley that indeed feels like something out of the Alps.

 

The summit is a peaceful, almost surreal place. La Cubilla tops out at 1,683 meters, right near the border with León. There’s no café, no monument, no ski resortn no nothing: just silence and the vastness of the mountains. Bring a snack, snap your summit selfie, and soak in the raw beauty before turning around and heading back the way you came.

 

What goes up must come down, and the return to Mieres is one long, glorious descent. Just don’t forget to look up once in a while; the reverse views are just as stunning.

Fueling up

Through the valley are some smaller villages where you can fill your bottles and have a coffee. Little to no possibilities as you get closer to the climb.