La Reconquista cycling route

We leave Cangues d'Onís/Cangas de Onís on the N-625 road in the direction of Arriondas/Les Arriondes, where we arrive after 8 km of flat terrain between meadows next to the river Sella. We cross Arriondas/Les Arriondes and take the AS-260 road towards the Alto del Fito, which we reach after a climb of about 10 km and a gradient of about 530 m, with some steep slopes. The Alto del Fitu viewpoint is located on one of the most famous hills in the Sueve mountain range, with a supreme panoramic view, kilometres of cliffy coastline and beaches and as many kilometres of mountains: the Sueve Nature Reserve, the Ponga Nature Reserve and the Picos de Europa National Park.

After marvelling at the views, we start to descend and, after 4 km, we turn right onto the Duyos/Playas de Caravia road. We approach the coast, flattening out between meadows and small rural villages, until we reach Carrales, where we take the N-632 on the right towards Ribadesella/Ribeseya, where we will arrive after 15 km of coastline. Ribadesella/Ribeseya is a coastal town with many points of interest, both cultural and natural.

We continue our route taking the AS-379 road towards Llanes, flat for 10 km until we reach Nueva, where we turn right onto the AS-340 road towards Rinsena. We start to climb for 8 km until we reach the Alto del Torno. We now face a stretch of 14 km descending a sawtooth profile to Corao. We pass through the villages of Cangues d'Onís/Cangas de Onís and Sotu Cangues until we reach the Basilica of Covadonga, in the heart of the Picos de Europa.

From here begins the ascent to the Lagos de Covadonga, which has become mythical and one of the benchmarks of international cycling. It is a very tough climb of 14 km and more than 1,000 metres of accumulated height gain. It starts at the roundabout that takes us to the Lagos road. There begins a 5-kilometre climb through a beautiful forest with gradients of between 7% and 10%. We pass the Mirador de los Canónigos viewpoint and leave the forest behind us to begin the ascent of the "La Huesera" section, 1.5 kilometres at an average of 12% with peaks of 15%. Shortly after passing this tough section we take a right turn and begin a succession of horseshoe bends that will take us to the Mirador de la Reina with gradients of 13% and 14%. Once we have passed these, we will only have 3 km to go to Lake Enol and 4 km to Lake Ercina.

Now we only have to go down to Sotu Cangues again, and take the road to Cangues d'Onís/Cangas de Onís, 3 km from the crossroads.