La Farrapona
Start Town | Altitude | Elevation Gain | Length | Gradient | Difficulty | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Riera | 1,708m | 1,079m | 18.7 km | 5.8% | 705 | ***** |
Climb Description
Despite being a relative newcomer to the Vuelta a España, La Farrapona has quickly become a favourite among cycling fans. Coming immediately after the Puerto de San Lorenzo, the Farrapona offers the chance for long range attacks, with a gradient which gets steeper towards the top. In 2014, Alberto Contador all but won the race on La Farrapona, following Chris Froome up the climb before riding away from his rival in the final kilometre.The main reason for La Farrapona's fame, however, is not so much its slopes as its location set inside the stunning Somiedo Natural Park - surely the most wild and undiscovered part of Western Europe. The mountains here are dotted with just a few small villages, and the surrounding countryside is home to numerous brown bears, wolves, vultures, golden eagles and lynx - making the Somiedo a truly unique ecosystem in Europe.
You almost certainly won't see any bears, wolves or lynx unless you specifically look for them and hike into the depths of the Natural Park. However, you will see vultures and golden eagles soaring over the road as you make your way up towards the top of the climb.
In terms of both its challenge as a climb and its unique scenery, La Farrapona is hard to beat.
La Farrapona is usually open from April to November. During the winter months, it is possible to climb as far as the village of Saliencia, but the final seven kilometres are sometimes closed due to the snow.
Roads & Traffic
The road is in excellent condition throughout and there is very little traffic on the climb throughout the whole year.
Puerto de San Lorenzo
Puerto de Somiedo
Puerto de Ventana
Valle de Lago
Ermita de Alba
Puerto Marabio
You can find out more information below about this and similar tours that we run in high mountains.
Alternative Routes
This is the only paved side of La Farrpona. There is, however, a gravel track to the top from the east, beginning in the village of Torrestío;. This is 4km long and has an average gradient of 9%. The surface is easy to ride on a mountain bike or a gravel bike, but we wouldn't recommend it on a road bike.Nearby Climbs
Puerto de San Lorenzo
Puerto de Somiedo
Puerto de Ventana
Valle de Lago
Ermita de Alba
Puerto Marabio
Cycling Holidays
La Farrapona is climbed on our Great Climbs of the Vuelta cycling holiday.You can find out more information below about this and similar tours that we run in high mountains.