Peña Cabarga is one of the Spain's toughest cycling climbs
Peña Cabarga is a mountain pass at an elevation of 560m (1,837ft) above the sea level located in the Cantabria region on Spain’s north coast. It’s said to be one of the Spain's toughest cycling climbs.
The road to the summit is brutally steep. It’s called CA-412. It’s paved but narrow. The climb is short and horrible at only 6km in length, but averaging almost 10%. There's a real sting in the tail too as the final 2km average 11.5% and includes slopes of up to 19%. It has been featured in Spanish Vuelta race. Notable winners here include Chris Froome and Joaquim Rodríguez - suggesting that despite its short length, it is certainly an ascent for proper climbers. It’s one of Chris Froome's favourite climbs.
Located within the Sierra de la Gándara, the summit is home to a few communication facilities. The summit offers stunning views. It has an excellent viewpoint located at 569 meters high. It offers a fantastic viewpoint of Santander and the Cantabrian bay. There is little traffic on this climb.