Conquer the Angliru: 12.5 km at 10% with 23.5% Ramps Above La Vega de Riosa

The experience

From La Vega de Riosa, about 20 km south of Oviedo, the Angliru climbs 1,266 m in 12.5 km to 1,573 m. The first 6.5 km are a normal mountain road at around 7.6%, ending with a flat breather at the Viapará rest area.

The sections above Viapará: Les Cabanes (≈ km 7), a 400 m chicane up to 22%; Llagos to Cobayos, three km at 12–14%; the Cueña les Cabres, about 1 km at 17% with a max of 23.5%; El Aviru and Les Piedrusines, two more walls of about 20%; then the last 500 m, almost flat. The top six kilometres average about 13%.

Vuelta history: first finish in 1999, when José María Jiménez caught Pavel Tonkov near the line. Winners since: Gilberto Simoni (2000), Roberto Heras (2002), Alberto Contador (2008 and 2017), Wout Poels (2011, after Juan José Cobo was disqualified), Kenny Elissonde (2013), Hugh Carthy (2020), Primož Roglič (2023) and João Almeida (2025, ahead of race leader Jonas Vingegaard). Petra Stiasny won the first women's Vuelta finish in May 2026.

Our gearing maths (own calculation, 80 kg rider and bike, 700×28c tyres, cadence in pedal turns per minute). At 13% and 180 W (6.1 km/h): 40 rpm on 34×28, 48 on 34×34, ~55 on 30×34 or 32×36. At 17% and 180 W (4.8 km/h): 31, 38 and ~43 rpm. At 22% and 180 W (3.8 km/h): 24, 30 and ~34 rpm. At 22% and 250 W (5.2 km/h): 34, 41 and ~47 rpm. In short, 34×28 is not enough for most riders; a gear smaller than one-to-one is what we would choose.

By the same calculation the rider needs roughly an hour and a half from La Vega to the top at 180 watts, and around 70 minutes at 250 watts, with almost two-thirds of the time on the top six kilometres. 23.5% is about 13 degrees, steep enough that your weight pulls you backwards and the front wheel wants to lift.

Should you ride it? We would want a yes to most of these: you can ride a sustained 8–9% climb of 10 km or more with gears to spare (for example Col de Joux Plane or Alpe d'Huez); you have ridden a few hundred metres above 15% without stopping; your bike has a gear smaller than one-to-one, or at least 34×34; and you can ride slowly in a straight line and restart on a steep slope. If not, the lower half to Viapará is a fine ride on its own.

If you have to stop, do it on a bend where the outside is flatter, or turn the bike across the road to restart, only if nothing is coming. Choose a dry day: on wet tarmac the rear wheel slips, and the steep, narrow descent becomes dangerous.

Pro tips

• Mistake: riding the first half too hard: At 7–8% it feels manageable, but everything that matters happens after Viapará.
• Mistake: bringing Alpine gears: A 34×28 or even 34×30 that is fine on the Galibier is not enough here for most riders.
• Mistake: forgetting the last two ramps: El Aviru and Les Piedrusines come after the Cueña les Cabres, when you think you are done.
• Mistake: treating the descent as easy: Brakes heat up and hands tire; brake early and often, and stop to rest if needed.
• Refill at Viapará: There is water in La Vega, Porció and at Viapará, nothing reliable above, and no café at the top.
• Practise slow riding and hill starts: On the steepest street you can find at home.
• Carry a windproof layer: The finish is almost 1,300 m above the start and often in cloud.

Strava segment: Alto de l'Angliru on Strava