Lagos de Covadonga - Soto de Cangas

Basically the same as Alpe dHuez. Very similar stats on length, height gain and gradients (if anything, Covadonga is slightly steeper), but far less hairpiny. Its also lower altitude because its near the coast. You can ride up it in the morning, have a wander round some stunning scenery, then back down to the beach for the afternoon. The roads into the Picos de Europa are not mountain passes. They dont go up one side and down the other; they kind of point inwards towards the centre of the national park and peter out. And they werent laid to get coaches to a ski resort either, because there isnt one (although there is/was a cable car on the south side of the national park at Funte De). So they feel like country lanes, rather than the motorways that go over a lot of mountain passes.

The Lagos de Covadonga is situated in Asturias and belongs to the Picos de Europa . Starting from Soto de Cangas, the Lagos de Covadonga ascent is 16 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1056 heightmeters. The average percentage thus is 7.4 %.

Are you planning to climb the Lagos de Covadonga? Here, you find all the information to train to climb the Lagos de Covadonga successfully.

Look for other sides to climb the Lagos de Covadonga.

Since 2005, the Lagos de Covadonga will be/was climbed in the following big tour stages:
Vuelta España 2012 :  La Robla > Lagos de Covadonga on 02/09/2012
Vuelta España 2007 :  Langreo - Lagos de Covadonga on 04/09/2007

Story by Jennifer from , United States, submitted on 29/05/2008

The first couple km were fairly easy. I kept my HR in the 140’s for fear the grade would wall. I enjoyed the cows and grassy fields w/stone buildings. The landscape changed to rocky mountains w/more cows. The road sharply curved right and I SAW the grade wall. I mentally talked to myself—I was convinced it was too steep and I’d fall backwards trying. I stayed seated, relaxed, wiped the sweat off, drank, got in a comfortable hand position, and went for it. Not so bad—I stayed seated the entire time. (Was afraid if I stood, I’d not last.) This built my confidence and I was determined to make it to the top. Sweat poured off me, but it got cooler as I ascended. My HR now was in the 150’s. It flattened out momentarily and I took a drink. A herd of cows blocked the road in front of me! I stopped for a photo & contemplated their friendliness. They moved aside and let me by. The views got better w/great photos all around, but if I stopped, would I be able to start again? I rounded a corner and saw mountains with snow. Wow…was I going that high? A short descent before I saw the first lake. The paved road ended at the 2nd lake. Felt like I deserved the trip down, but would’ve enjoyed it more in the car since I had jam on the brakes.

My personal climb rating:

Story by Patrick Simpson from Oxford, UK, submitted on 09/03/2007

Basically the same as Alpe dHuez. Very similar stats on length, height gain and gradients (if anything, Covadonga is slightly steeper), but far less hairpiny. Its also lower altitude because its near the coast. You can ride up it in the morning, have a wander round some stunning scenery, then back down to the beach for the afternoon. Partway up theres a shrine thats also a significant historic site, so there can be a lot of coach parties clogging the road. But its a good tourist stop, and when you continue upwards you get an exagerrated feeling of leaving it all behind as you suddenly change from busy to empty roads. The roads into the Picos de Europa are not mountain passes. They dont go up one side and down the other; they kind of point inwards towards the centre of the national park and peter out. And they werent laid to get coaches to a ski resort either, because there isnt one (although there is/was a cable car on the south side of the national park at Funte De). So they feel like country lanes, rather than the motorways that go over a lot of mountain passes.

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