Alto de El Acebo by Bike: The Great Mountain Pass of the West
Almost all the cycle tourism that reaches Asturias stays in the central area: Angliru, Gamoniteiru, Cobertoria. It’s logical, as everything is half an hour from Oviedo.
The west is far away, which is why almost no one goes. Whoever does, returns.
The numbers
From Cangas del Narcea, it is 9.3 kilometers with 811 meters of elevation gain, an average gradient of 8.7%, and a maximum of 13%. The summit is at 1,174 meters, at the Sanctuary of the Virgin of El Acebo.
On our difficulty scale, it scores 70.
The profile, kilometer by kilometer
| Km | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 7 |
This profile is almost a straight line. Everything is between seven and ten percent, from start to finish, without a single standout ramp and without a single kilometer of respite.
It is the opposite of the Angliru, which tricks you for six kilometers and then breaks you. El Acebo tells you what to expect from the first meter and it sticks to it. For many people, that is better: you can choose a pace at kilometer one and maintain it all the way to the top.
How long it will take you
| Cycle tourist | 1h18 |
| Fit enthusiast | 1h00 | Competitive pace | 40 min |
The La Vuelta climb
El Acebo was featured in the Vuelta a Asturias for decades before arriving at La Vuelta a España, where it debuted in 2019. That day, Sepp Kuss won: his first stage victory in a Grand Tour.
It is a climb with more local than national history, and in western Asturias, it is climbed with a devotion that the famous climbs lack.
What’s not in the data
The summit is a sanctuary, not a collection of antennas. You finish at the Sanctuary of the Virgin of El Acebo, which is a viewpoint overlooking the entire Narcea valley. Of the ten climbs in the guide, it has the most beautiful finish and is the only one where the summit makes sense on its own.
You are in wine country. Cangas del Narcea has its own designation of origin and is one of the few mountain wine-growing areas in Spain. It is an excellent place to end the day, even if that forces you not to plan anything else that afternoon.
The combo. Pair it with the Puerto de Rañadoiro if you are going to do a full day in the west.
How far away it is. Cangas del Narcea is a little over an hour and a half by car from Oviedo. This is not a climb to fit into a single day: it is a climb to dedicate a full day, or two, to while staying in the area.
Who it’s for
For those coming to Asturias for more than three days who want to see something other than the usual circuit. For those who prefer a consistent climb to an explosive one. And for those who understand that the value of a road also lies in having it all to yourself.
The other nine. El Acebo is one of the ten legendary climbs of Asturias that we have compiled in a seventeen-page guide: kilometer-by-kilometer profiles, times by level, and six routes that link them. It’s free.
Download the Asturias climb guide
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Alto de El Acebo?
9.3 kilometers from Cangas del Narcea, with 811 meters of elevation gain, an average gradient of 8.7%, and a maximum of 13%. The summit is at 1,174 meters.
Who won on El Acebo in La Vuelta?
Sepp Kuss, in the climb's debut in La Vuelta a España in 2019. It was his first stage victory in a Grand Tour.
Is it a consistent climb?
Very much so. All of its kilometers are between 7 and 10% on average, with no standout ramps or rest sections. It allows you to choose a pace at the beginning and maintain it to the summit.
What is at the summit?
The Sanctuary of the Virgin of El Acebo, a viewpoint over the Narcea valley. It is the most beautiful finish of the ten climbs in the guide.
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