Part 1 - Cantabria

The final Chapter embraces more Basque Country craziness by looping south then north again for an overnight stop in the coastal town of Laredo. Another twisty stage follows the steepest and the most dramatic roads of Cantabria (Espina and Lunada, notably) before we head into the heart of the Picos de Europa for an overnight stop in Potes. The San Glorio and Piedrasluengas climbs will be sweetly remembered! But the real ‘Picos drama’ comes in stage 54: the double up & back feature of the Sotros and Lagos de Covadonga climbs (both Vuleta regulars) is hard to beat. Having hopefully recovered in Cangas de Onis, we loop south for a final feast of Asturian beauty via the Puerto’s Tarna, Vegara, and Colladonna. Remote, barren, barely touched by time. Our stage ends in Langreo and a well-earned rest day.

Part 2 - Asturias to Campostella

Part Two opens with an ‘Asturian Dream-Stage’, climbing both the Gamoniteiru and Angliru on the same day. Two monsters of the Vuelta and a must-do on anyone’s bucket list of Asturia. After stopping in Grado, our route to Cangas del Narcea takes us through the most remote parts of the Somiedo Natural Park, a high plateau characterized by roaming horses and timeless hamlets. The final three stages explore the most remote part of Northern Spain in the Galicia region. With overnight stops in Villafranca del Bierzo and Monforte de Lemos, climbs are severe, roads are narrow, drama is plentiful. Apart from the Puerto de Ancares, the featured climbs are pearls of ‘local knowledge’, probably walked by Camino pilgrims more often than climbed by cyclists! Santiago de Compostella should provide perfect way to end this journey of discovery, both of ourselves and our surroundings.