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Day 48: Relleu (Ciclismo)

David -

Port de Tudons arrival from the South:

Double Port de Tudons. Yes, today's ride provided two opportunities to reach the elevation of 1025 metres. In fact there are four routes to the Port de Tudons summit and, over three rides, I have ridden them all. Today I rode these two routes:

  1. Start: Relleu, Location wrt Port: South, Average Gradient: 4.7%, Length: 14.3 km, Elevation Gain: 670m.
  2. Start: Alcoleja, Location wrt Port: North, Average Gradient: 5.1%, Length: 5.0 km, Elevation Gain: 375m.

Leaving Alcoleja:

Arriving at Port de Tudons:

Yesterday I rode:
Start: Penaguila, Location wrt Port: North, Average Gradient: 4.1%, Length: 7.5 km, Elevation Gain: 304m.
And on Tuesday I rode:
Start: Via Sella, Location wrt Port: South, Average Gradient: 5.0%, Length: 17.0 km, Elevation Gain: 849m.

I think my favourite climb to the Port de Tudons is from Relleu; the easiest is from Penaguila; and, simply due to its length and elevation gain, the hardest is via Sella. Having said that, there much harder climbs to to be found in the Costa Blanca area, e.g all roads leading to Miserat, Font de l'Arbue and Bèrnia from Altea la Vella.

I would also have to say that today's climb and descent of the Moleta de Xarquera was pretty tough going with many steep ramps, which was not helped by long sections of the single track road's surface being in a very poor state of repair. I wouldn't bother with it unless or until the road is resurfaced. I was particularly nonplussed, when at the summit, I looked towards the descent to see that the start was not only very steep (apparently 14%) but also, the road surface was just about devoid of tarmacadam. However, it does appear that it's summit has a 1m higher elevation than that of the Port de Tudons. Therefore, although it was metaphorically speaking the low point of the day, it was in fact the high point!

One other climb of note was to the Port de Confrides from Benilloba, which was my first ascent from this direction. It is an enjoyable climb (scenic with an average gradient of 4.3%).

  • Distance driven: 0
  • Distance cycled: 85 kilometres
  • Weather: Wall-to-wall sunshine for most of the day, afternoon temperatures in the low twenties C.

Today's Route: