Day 85: Guadelupe (Cyce)

It's always good to be back in the mountains and, today was no exception. But first, there was a need for me to embark on a minor off-road detour.

Step one was to get to it. Obviously, often on these exploratory adventures you don't know what obstacles may stand in your way. Fortunately, the first obstacle I encountered wasn't locked!

Once in the tunnel, there were multiple puddles that needed to be avoided and semi-darkness didn't help, but the good news is no mishaps occurred and I arrived at the infrastructure that I wished to see:

And here's a photo of it from a different perspective:

And looking down from it:

Now, one would have thought that I should expect puddles when I've planned the previous couple of days' itineraries around intermittent rain! But, I was still a little surprised to encounter these both on and after leaving the viaduct!

Thankfully, I successfully navigated these obstacles with only muddied tyres!

Detour complete, it was time for some descending, followed by climbing ... rinse and repeat ... until the end (kilometre 101).... on paved roads!

Along the way, amongst other pueblos, I passed through:

And:

Then, after approximately 68 kilometres of cycling and 1,000 metres of ascent, it was time for the final climb of the day: approximately 1035 metres of ascent over 17.9 kilometres. The average gradient of 6% does not tell the full story of this climb. An average can hide a multitude of sins/challenges! And this climb's average gradient statistic was definitely hiding some brutality!

At approximately 5.8 kilometres to the summit, the climb's route turns off of the main road on to a single track concrete road ....

... where immediately there is a 15% gradient sign! It does not provide any indication of how long the 15% lasts!

I can tell you, it lasts for approximately three kilometres, and has some steeper ramps! Oh yes, at the start of this 15% challenge, I already had 80 kilometres (almost 50 miles) of cycling in my near 62 year old legs, as well as about 1,600 of ascent!

Eventually, the concrete road joins the "easier" route from Guadelope, where I took the opportunity to take a photograph documenting from whence I came:

Then it was time for the final push to the summit. Here's a photo of the "Pico sign":

The disused military base:

And a photo taken from the helipad at the summit:

And, finally, before the fast descent to Guadelupe, a photo of the pueblo, with the viaduct to its right.

101 kilometres of great cycling with 2100 metres of ascent. One day I'd like to return to do the "easier" climb from Guadelupe!

If you like cycling, climbing by bike and have an interest in geology, this is a good place to cycle.

• Distance driven: 0 miles
• Distance cycled: 101 kilometres
• Weather:-
  • General conditions: Started with lots of high cloud, sunshine and clouds leter.
  • Temperature: 13°C to 19°C, 10°C on the descent from Pico de Villuercas
  • Wind (Beaufort): Mostly light airs - ideal for submitting Picos!

Today's route: