Los Machucos is one of the steepest roads in Spain (31%)

Los Machucos is a mountain pass at an elevation of 880m (2,887ft) above the sea level, located in the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, in Spain. It’s one of the steepest roads that a Spanish bike race has ever tackled, where you ride directly uphill over a huge rock. The climb is brutal, with gradients reaching up to 31%.

Is the road to Los Machucos paved?

Tucked away in the northern part of the country, the narrow road to the summit is paved, but the steepest sections are concrete. It was built between 2003 and 2007. The pass is typically open all year round, but short-term closures are common in winter due to dangerous weather conditions. Located to the east of Collado de la Espina, the climb has been featured in the Spanish Vuelta race.

How long is the road to Los Machucos?

Set high in the easternmost sector of the Cantabrian Mountains, at the top of the climb, there is a metal sculpture of a cow, known as Monumento a la Vaca Pasiega. The pass is 14.1km (8.76 miles) long, running from San Roque de Riomiera to Bustablado.

 

 

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