FUENTES del VINO ROAD is the point to point Road bike route through the Tarmac, Vineyards and Mountains Passes of LA RIOJA
3, 4 or 5 exceptional cycling days through Tierra Estella, the Cameros Range, the vineyards, wineries and monumental villages of the Ebro basin, and the Montaña Alavesa.
style - road -
With standard or PLUS difficulty proposals.
FUENTES del VINO is a round-trip route designed from 5 to 3 stages.
The route takes place in the North of SPAIN. The track jumps from the Tierra Estella Navarra, the cliffs of the Cantabria Range and the Montaña Alavesa at North, to the Ranges of LA RIOJA at South.
In the middle; The Rioja basin. Infinite vineyards, designer wineries, monumental villas saturated with history, large Mountain passes in the Cameros and Cantabria Ranges and the backbone of the Ebro in the center feeding everything.
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- The Stages
- Stage A
- Stage B
- Stage C
- Stage D
- Stage E
Stage A: Estella - Albelda de Iregua
Distance 91 / 140 km - Unevenness 1.180 / 1.690 m
Stage B: Albelda de Iregua - Nájera
Distance 127 km - Unevenness 1.985 m
Stage C: Nájera - Haro
Distance 94 / 144 km - Unevenness 940 / 1.515 m
Stage D: Circular Haro
Distance 95 / 138 km - Unevenness 1.045 / 2.225 m
Stage E: Haro - Estella
Distance 106 / 128 km - Unevenness 1.250 / 2.120 m
Standar Option 5 Stages
Distance: 512 km Unevenness: 6.400 m
PLUS Option 5 Stages
Distance: 676 km Unevenness: 9.535 m
La Demanda Range, lonely tarmacs in La Rioja.
Stage A: Estella - Albelda de Iregua
Distance 91 / 140 km - Unevenness 1.180 / 1.690 m
The 1st stage of the route has 2 clearly differentiated sections. In the 1st one we will go west through the region of Tierra Estella located in the Middle Zone of Navarra in which we will face a very rolling section which ends at 2 medium-sized mountain passes -although with some very steep ramps- that rise above the slopes of the Sierra de Codés.
In the 2nd part we already enter the "world of vineyards", we descend until we cross the Ebro and we roll without major demands until the end of the stage at the 200 Monges winery in Albelda de Iregua where we directly "immerse ourselves" in the wine-making environment that constantly permeates La Rioja.
If we choose the PLUS option, we will continue the route in the first part mentioned, but then we will radically turn South until we reach the Ebro river and we will enter the world of the vineyard but through a completely different territory. Perhaps without knowing it, we have decided to know what in terms of wine appellations now comes to be known as La Rioja Oriental.
In the sporting area, a very rolling stage but with a demanding end in the ascent to Castillo de Clavijo, a full-fledged Mountain pass.
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Stage B: Albelda de Iregua - Nájera
Distance 127 km - Unevenness 1.985 m
For stage B, the most demanding of all, the standard route is the same that we chose for the PLUS option for the simple reason that it is the best, although we have tracks with softer options in case someone finds the route very hard.
The stage goes right through the entire Cameros Range, ascending the Mountain passes of La Rasa and Peña Hincada. A pure mountain day today.
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Stage C: Nájera - Haro
Distance 94 / 144 km - Unevenness 940 / 1.515 m
Except for the slight difficulty involved in the ascent to the essential Suso Monastery in San Millán de la Cogolla, the rest of the stage will consist of riding among crops and vineyards up to the slopes of Cellorigo, where the ascent to "Pulpito de La Rioja" -a Spectacular viewpoint over the entire region- will again require us to put the best of us over the pedals.
Obligatory stop at the Castle of Sajazarra and with a quickly roll to the end of the stage in the "Capital del Rioja" stage C will be over.
If we choose for the PLUS option, we will add to the kilometers of the day an incursion through Ezcaray andLa Demanda Range in which we will ascend the Port of Pradilla, then descend to the province of Burgos and then cross the "Riojilla Burgalesa" to contact the standard tour.
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Stage D: Circular Haro
Distance 95 / 138 km - Unevenness 1.045 / 2.225 m
Unless we have chosen the PLUS option, in which case the "task" of the day is clearly the hard ascent to Moncalvillo Mountain pass, - the most demanding port of La Rioja -, stage D will be the most eminently "wine" of the 5 stages of FUENTES del VINO ROAD.
A stage of "intoxicating" style and with a certain air of glamor in which the constant of the day will be vineyards and caves.
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Stage E: Haro - Estella
Distance 106 / 128 km - Unevenness 1.250 / 2.120 m
The last stage (E) begins with one of the hard Mountain passes that starting in the basin of La Rioja ascend to the Cantabria Range to enter the leafy region known as "Montaña Alavesa".
We will ascend the port of Rivas de Tereso if we choose the standard option or the mythical Herrera if we opt for the PLUS.
Once up, the atmosphere will change completely and will give a differentiating touch of great beauty to the stage in charge of finishing FUENTES del VINO ROAD.
The last kilometers of the day will pass through the Amezkoas Valley on the southern slope of the well-known Sierra de Urbasa, along whose slopes we will return to the starting point in Estella.
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To get an idea about FUENTES del VINO ROAD and about the scenes you can find if you decide to meet it, click and browse below in any of these tabs.
Stage A: Estella - Albelda de Iregua
Distance 91 / 140 km - Unevenness 1.180 / 1.690 m
Oco Valley at the foot of the Codés Range. We cross Tierra Estella heading West looking for La Rioja.
In this 1st stage we will cross the sunflower fields of Navarra.
Fast roads on the slopes of the Cantabria Range, we enter La Rioja Alavesa.
Professional Pelotón in "La Vuelta a La Rioja" crossing the Ebro river in Lapuebla de Labarca, the point where formerly a boat was the resource used to cross the river. We change slopes and leave La Rioja Alavesa.
Terraced "Singular" vineyards, typical of the Iregua Valley. Below, the "result", the renowned 200 Monges wines from Vinícola Real winery.
The last kilometers of the day take us into the Iregua Valley, where the stage ends
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Stage B: Albelda de Iregua - Nájera
Distance 127 km - Unevenness 1.985 m
200 Monges winery and its vineyards, an accommodation in a Hotel / Winery difficult to forget.
Vuelta a España 2021 under the slopes of Moncalvillo in the Iregua Valley.
Surprising set of Medieval Caves at the entrance to the Leza Valley.
Typical landscape of Cameros Range. Territory of the first kilometers of the day.
Overwhelming Leza Canyon. The road, at the top, almost fly over the river.
We continue beside the Leza river. Environment of green mantle native close to Jalón de Cameros.
Mountain scenes during the climb to La Rasa Mountain pass
At the top of Peña Hincada a long descent begins that places us in the Najerrilla basin.
Early snowfall in late fall over the summits of La Demanda Range.
Close to Bobadilla. We leave behind the Iberian Mountain range and return to the "friendly zone" of the route, again the warmth and the aroma of vineyard.
End of the day in Nájera, from the Arabic Naxara, "Place among mountains".
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Stage C: Najerá - Haro
Distance 94 / 144 km - Unevenness 940 / 1.515 m
An obligatory stop, Yuso Monastery -San Millán de la Cogolla- World Heritage Site.
Pass through La Demanda Range in the PLUS option. Sunrise in Ezcaray and ascent to Pradilla Mountain pass, which leads to the province of Burgos.
Morning scenes in the Burgos slope of La Demanda Range
Long sections among crops in the Riojilla burgalesa
Demanding ramps during the ascent to Pulpito de La Rioja, the Cellorigo viewpoint, one of the few heights of a certain entity in the standard version of today's stage.
The last kilometers of the day pass under the gaze of the Obarenes Mountains. At its feet, among the vineyards of Muga wineries, the city of Haro emerges, the Capital of Rioja for the world, and the end of the stage for us.
Quick visit - it´s time to go to rhe hotel - to the historical Haro Station
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Stage D: Circular Haro
Distance 95 / 138 km - Unevenness 1.045 / 2.225 m
Today´s stage goes through the Rioja "Zero Zone".
We start the day crossing the immense Sea of vineyards that connects Haro with Nájera.
Long sections of solitary tarmacs under the omnipresent presence of the La Demanda Range.
Chozo on the road with the Cantabria Range closing the picture.
A stop among the vineyards of the Marqués de Riscal wineries in Elciego.
Carravalseca dry lagoon in Laguardia, we enter the Rioja Alavesa again.
Harvest days in the Rioja Alavesa, around Labastida.
Stop to recharge energy among the vineyards of the Ebro Basin.
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Stage E: Haro - Estella
Distance 106 / 128 km - Unevenness 1.250 / 2.120 m
Sea of clouds over sea of vineyards hidden in mist. Last look at La Rioja from the viewpoint of the Cantabria Range.
We change the environment and leave the vineyards behind. We enter the Montaña Alavesa.
Demanding ramps in the Herrera Mountain Pass. Hard work if we choose the PLUS option in this last stage.
Panoramic view over the Montaña Alavesa seen from the Paso del Toro in the Cantabria Range. In first plane Lagrán and Villaverde, points of passage of this last stage of Fuentes del Vino ROAD, in the background the Natural Park of Izki. We will get there if we choose the PLUS option.
Quiet roads in the Montaña Alavesa, forests and fields. La Muela de San Román watches over us as we roll towards Kampezu.
The landscape has definitely changed. In the Montaña Alavesa the oak grove is the chief.
The last kilometers of the day will pass through the Amezkoas Valley on the southern slope of the Urbasa Range.
5 days later, at the foot of Lakua's balcony, Estella appears again.
FUENTES del VINO ROAD ends.
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