Collado de la Espina is like riding up a wall

Collado de la Espina is a mountain pass at an elevation of 968m (3,175ft) above the sea level, located in the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, in northern Spain. It’s one of the steepest roads that a Spanish bike race has ever tackled where you directly ride against uphill over a huge rock. The climb is brutal: up to 31%.

The narrow road to the summit is paved but the steepest sections are concrete. Open to traffic throughout the year, may be closed for short periods in winter when the weather is bad. It has been featured in the Spanish Vuelta race. Nestled in the easternmost sector of the Cantabrian Mountains, the pass is also known as Paso de Porracalina, Alto de Somo and Colláu Espina.

The pass is 14.1 km long, running from San Roque de Riomiera to Bustablado. This road has humbled many egos. It’s not for the sissies and shouldn’t be attempted by novice drivers. The road is inhumane, hitting a brutal 31% through some of the ramps.

 

• La Merica, a drive you'll never forget
• Collado la Gitana, a gravel mountainous track in southern Spain