Puerto de la Virgen

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Sorbas, Andalucía, ES

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Panoramica del percorso

bici-almeria.com

cycle trips in south eastern spain

53 km

879 m

This is bici-almeria's closest and most visited climb .... not the highest, not the steepest but for us the favourite.

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Dettagli del percorso

Starting from one of the roadside bars in @point[Sorbas](d,52836.19) we head for a short ride along the N340 before turning north on the AL813, yet another perfectly smooth road that gently rises for 12km from Sorbas (400m) to @point[Uleila del Campo](d,12760.16) (580m) where there is the opportunity to venture into the town and grab a coffee or late brunch before tackling the climb that starts on @photo[leaving the village](773001) and tops out at 1085m. 
At 10km long and average gradient of 4.8% this is mountain for everyone - beginners can make it up as it is never steep, strong riders can big-ring all the way up and the mountain-goats can fly up as quick as they like! @slice[Puerto de la Virgen](d,14297.47,24144.68) is a magical place to ride a road bike. The tarmac is super smooth, the views breathtaking, the road winds ahead invitingly and best of all you will probably only encounter an odd vehicle on this seldom used road. The gradient is steady all the way up - varying little either side of 4-6% and all the way up you can see the scar line ahead where it continues its way up the side of the mountain. A bit like the Calar Alto climb (and Mont Ventoux) there is a teasing white crest atop the high point. @photo[You can see it for miles](772993), all the way from the depart in Sorbas it is there. In this case it is the Santuario Virgen de la Cabeza - a remote chapel that can be reached (unfortunately not by road bike) by scaling a further 2km up a dirt track from the @point[Puerto summit](d,24125.18). Most of the company you will have on this climb will be wildlife, finches, larks, rock thrushes, orioles, wheatears, hoopoes, bee-eaters all make this a bird spotters paradise, as well as a cyclists. There are also plenty of reptiles such as snakes, lizards and toads plus the occasional goat or goat herd! 
Either on the way up or on the brilliantly exhilarating descent please make sure you stop somewhere and take in the view south over the Sorbas basin, Desierto de Tabernas, Sierra Alhamilla and even glimpses of the med. @photo[View from the climb](773034) At the summit you can see views north, and the road plunges down away from you the other side where you can reach Cobdar and extend the ride should you wish. @photo[Puerto de la Virgen summit](772994)
So what gos up must come down and the ride back down off the mountain is amazing as you can see so far ahead down the road, making braking easy and cornering so much fun. Once we get back to Uleila we return to Sorbas via @point[El Puntal](d,41116.07) and some great @photo[*camino rurales*](773235) via the small hamlets of @point[Gochar and Quijiliana](d,48879.56) and crossing a short section of rambla before reaching Sorbas.

Puerto de la Virgen

Panoramica del percorso

Dettagli del percorso

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