Alto de l’Angliru, ESP

The Alto de l’Angliru in Asturias is widely considered the hardest climb professional cycling rides on a regular basis. A former cattle track, paved, wrapped in fog and turned into a stage by the Vuelta a España. The numbers are brutal, but they only tell half the story: the second half of the Angliru is a wall.

The Angliru at a glance

From La Vega near Riosa it is 13.2 kilometres and 1,266 metres of climbing, nine percent on average, 23.5 percent at the steepest. Hors catégorie, although the average grossly understates it: the first half is moderate, and from kilometre six the average sits around 13 percent. At the top, at 1,570 metres, you often stand inside the clouds of the Asturian mountains.

The route

The first five kilometres climb at five to nine percent, unpleasant but rideable. At kilometre six the road briefly flattens, with even a touch of descent. It is the last chance to eat, drink and gather yourself. After that, a different climb begins.

From kilometre 6.5 the gradient rarely drops below twelve percent. Kilometre after kilometre the profile reads 12 to 17 percent, and three kilometres from the top waits the Cueña les Cabres, Spain’s most infamous ramp at 23.5 percent. Even pros weave across the road out of the saddle here. The final kilometre and a half to the summit then relents almost surreally.

History and racing

The Angliru is an invention with a named author. Miguel Prieto, a visually impaired employee of the Spanish blind organisation ONCE, proposed the freshly paved cattle track to the Vuelta in 1997, just as the race was looking for an answer to Alpe d’Huez and the Mortirolo. The premiere came in 1999: José María Jiménez caught Pavel Tonkov a kilometre from the line and won in the fog. The myth was born.

In 2002 the Angliru became a place of scandal. In the rain the team cars slipped on the painted road, riders stalled or crashed, and David Millar dismounted one metre before the finish line and laid down his race number in protest. Kelme manager Vicente Belda asked: “What do they want? Blood?” Since then the mountain has reliably delivered drama: in 2008 Alberto Contador sealed his first Vuelta win here, in 2013 Chris Horner dropped Vincenzo Nibali on the Angliru and became, at 41, the oldest Grand Tour winner in history (the stage went to Kenny Elissonde), and in 2017 Contador won the last race of his career here. In 2023 Primož Roglič won, in 2025 João Almeida. The record has stood since 2000: Roberto Heras in 41:55.

Practical tips

Gearing is everything: 34×32 is the minimum, smaller is smarter. Hold back consciously in the first half, because from kilometre six every saved watt counts. Asturias is green because it is wet, rain and fog are possible at any time, and wet 20-percent ramps are no fun downhill either. The descent on the same road demands full concentration and good brakes.

How does the Angliru compare?

Its only true rival in the extreme category is the Zoncolan: similarly steep, similarly merciless, Italian instead of Asturian. If you prefer Asturias epic rather than brutal, the Lagos de Covadonga are the more beautiful, more rideable Vuelta classic. The Angliru remains the maximum of what you can experience on a road bike going uphill.

The Angliru ranks among the top 50 of our 100 climbs, on the 100 Climbs posters and on the compact 50 Climbs edition.

How steep is the Alto de l’Angliru?

Nine percent on average over 13.2 kilometres, but the second half is what matters: around 13 percent average from kilometre six, with the Cueña les Cabres at 23.5 percent as the steepest section.

Why is the Angliru so famous?

Because the Vuelta a España turned a paved cattle track into the hardest climb in professional cycling. Since the 1999 premiere with José María Jiménez, decisive moments have piled up here, from Contador in 2008 to Horner in 2013 and Roglič in 2023.

What gearing do I need on the Angliru?

As small as possible. 34×32 is the lower limit, and a compact crank with 34×36 or smaller makes the 20-percent passages far more controllable. Pros ride gearing here they otherwise only use on the Zoncolan.