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Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada

5.0
8 reviews | Elevation profile | 34 photos
This climb is partly on a gravel surface, but can be ridden with a road bike.
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Elevation profile Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
paved
gravel

Statistics

Difficulty points 2161
Length 42.4 km
Average gradient 6.5%
Steepest 100 meters 13.4%
Total ascent 2772m

Short recap

Famous climb
Beautiful scenery
56 hairpin turns
Gravel
#14 toughest climb of Europe
#1 most elevation gain of Europe
#23 longest climb of Europe
#10 average steepest climb of Sierra Nevada
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Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada is a climb in the region Sierra Nevada. It is 42.4km long and bridges 2772 vertical meters with an average gradient of 6.5%, resulting in a difficulty score of 2161. The top of the ascent is located at 3384 meters above sea level. Climbfinder users shared 8 reviews of this climb and uploaded 34 photos.

Road names: GR 3203, Paseo del Rio, carr de el Purche, A395, A402 & A395

Photos (34)

Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada

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Reviews (8)

5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
PascalV
4 Mo 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: French. Show original

Climb to the Sierra Nevada via Monachil , El Purche with steep gradients for the first 10/15 kilometres in the stifling heat, then a 5 to 7 %, formidable for its length of more than 30 kilometres.
A real challenge in this month of July, my 60+ years are making themselves felt 😜but the descent softens the ride I finish Roti by the sun and the heat which are felt from 1000 metres.
A great experience despite everything ..., but you need to be prepared 😉

Montee vers la Sierra Nevada par Monachil , El Purche dés pourcentages importants sur les 10/15 premiers kilomètres sous une chaleur étouffante puis de 5 a 7 % , redoutable par sa longueur plus de 30 kilomètres
Un vrai challenge en ce mois de juillet , mes plus de 60 ans se font ressentir 😜mais la descente permet d’adoucir la sortie Je finis Roti par le soleil et la chaleur qui sr font ressentir á partir de 1000 metres
Une belle expérience malgré tout …, mais il faut être préparé 😉

Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Dashboard
_superver
6 Mo 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Well, what can you say? The roof of Europe pretty much. Starting in the dark and watching the sun rise. Everything about this is magical. The views are insane. Along the way, you encounter goats. The last few kilometres you actually have to walk, but who cares? The descent is equally a pleasure.

Tja, wat kan je zeggen? Het dak van Europa zo ongeveer. Begonnen in het donker en de zon zien opkomen. Alles hieraan is magisch. De uitzichten zijn waanzinnig. Onderweg kom je geiten tegen. De laatste kilometers moet je eigenlijk lopen, maar wat geeft dat? De afdaling is al even een plezier.

Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Dashboard
Slushmeister
1 y 5.0 03:14:00 (13.1km/h)

A serious climb!
After 2500m it becomes really tough…but the temperature gets better!
Last part is more gravel than road!

Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Dashboard
teogros
1 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Italian. Show original

One of the most incredible places in the world! Get ready to push the bike, in the last kilometre: the summit must be reached at all costs!

Uno dei posti più incredibili al mondo! Preparatevi a spingere la bici, nell'ultimo km: la vetta va raggiunta ad ogni costo!

Dashboard
MrKappie
2 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Beautiful climb, this route via Huetor Vega and Monachil is clearly more difficult than the route via the dam, especially because of the changing character in combination with the double percentages on the part after Monachil. At Puerto de Hazallanas it is indeed advisable to take the A-4025, on the way back I would recommend the A-395 because there you have more overview. I rode it myself last week (mid-May), and it is indeed nice to see the pros train. From 2700 metres there was still snow on the road, and after 2900 it was really not possible to continue. For this year, the expectation is that it will take another 3/4 weeks until the path to the top is completely free of snow. The temperatures in the valley will not be much lower the coming weeks and months, so personally think that September remains as the best month if you want to do the whole route.

Prachtige klim, deze route via Huetor Vega en Monachil is duidelijker lastiger dan de route via de dam, vooral vanwege het wisselende karakter i.c.m. de dubbele percentages op t stuk na Monachil. Bij Puerto de Hazallanas inderdaad aan te raden om de A-4025 te nemen, op de weg terug zou ik de A-395 aanraden omdat je daar wat meer overzicht hebt. Heb hem zelf vorige week (half mei) gereden, en het is dan inderdaad leuk om de profs ook te zien trainen. Vanaf een meter of 2700 lagen er nog wel sneeuwpakken op de weg, en na 2900 was t echt niet meer mogelijk om door te gaan. Voor dit jaar is de verwachting dat het vanaf nu nog 3/4 weken duurt totdat het pad naar de top helemaal sneeuwvrij is. De temperaturen in het dal zullen de komende weken en maanden echter niet veel lager meer worden, dus denk persoonlijk dat september dan overblijft als de beste maand als je de gehele route wilt doen.

Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Dashboard
Lexflex
2 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Did this climb in October 2021, just before participating in l'Étape Granada (175km). Indeed a unique cycling experience this ride to one of the mountain tops of the Sierra Nevada. It will take you a day. Even the last kilometre with the bike in hand was special. Hikers look at you with amazement when they see you coming.

Heb deze klim in oktober 2021 gedaan, vlak voor deelname aan l’Étape Granada (175km). Inderdaad een unieke fietservaring deze rit naar één van de bergtoppen van de Siërra Nevada. Je bent er een dag mee zoet. Zelfs de laatste kilometer met de fiets aan de hand was speciaal. Wandelaars kijken je wel vol verbazing aan zodra ze je aan zien komen wandelen.

Dashboard
armandgilson
3 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: French. Show original

The ascent by the dam is certainly pleasant. The difficulty lies mainly in its length and the heat of the area. The altitude could also be a handicap for some.

La montée par le barrage est certes agréable. La difficulté réside surtout en sa longueur et à la chaleur du coin . L' altitude aussi pourrait en handicaper certains.

Dashboard
MichaelaStuart
4 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

It is definitely a cool climb of 43 km with a very diverse landscape ... From civilization, through forests, along rocky outcrops above the tree line and suddenly you are in a kind of moonscape. And the last part is literally and figuratively breathtaking.
Only the last 1.5 km is terrible. Very last part (500 meter) is just not even cycling but clambering with the bike on your neck over rocks
It is a super cool experience that you as a cyclist absolutely must have experienced. You are really on the roof of the world!
The most beautiful climb? Not at all... But in the top 5 of most spectacular experiences on a bicycle!

Het is absoluut een gave klim van 43 km met een heel divers landschap... vanuit de bewoonde wereld, door bossen, langs rotspartijen boven de boomgrens en ineens kom je in een soort van maanlandschap. En het laatste stuk is letterlijk en figuurlijk breathtaking
Alleen de laatste 1,5 km is bagger. Allerlaatste stuk (500 meter) is gewoon niet eens te fietsen maar klauteren met de fiets in je nek over rotsblokken
Het is een supergave ervaring die je als fietser absoluut meegemaakt moet hebben. Daar sta je echt op het dak van de wereld!
De mooiste klim? Absoluut niet... maar wel in de top 5 van meest spectaculaire ervaringen op de fiets!

Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada
Dashboard

Climbing times

7 km/h 06:03:11
11 km/h 03:51:07
15 km/h 02:49:29
19 km/h 02:13:48

Road surface condition

32% 32% 37%
Based on 19 votes
Share your knowledge. What was the road condition during your ascent?

Traffic

52% 19% 29%
Based on 21 votes
Your experience counts. How much traffic did you encounter during the climb?