5 essential routes for cycling lovers

You’ve watched the pros battle it out on some of the toughest cycling routes in the world, now it’s your turn. These five routes, which feature in three of the most iconic cycling races in the world, can all be found in Wikiloc, the app that helps you discover the best trails for biking, hiking, running and much more.

Fausto Coppi, Lucho Herrera, Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond... many cycling legends have made history on the famous climb to Alpe d’Huez. This 54 km route features hills with an average gradient of 8.2 per cent and runs through the 21 most famous horseshoe bends in cycling. Conquer its peak and you can consider yourself in the company of the greatest in the sport.

In 1969, Eddy Merckx, considered the most successful cyclist of all time, completed the Col de Tourmalet like a rocket, reaching the finish line with a more than eight-minute advantage over his nearest competitor. His wife was giving birth that same day and the champion said he was in a hurry! You probably won’t reach the devilish pace of The Cannibal, but completing this 104 km route and the colossal climb to the top will make you feel like a true champion.

In the heart of the Italian Alps, surrounded by mountains of more than 2,500 metres in altitude, you’ll find the feared Mortirolo – with hills that reach an 18 per cent gradient, that fear is understandable. Find out for yourself why this 104 km route is the most famous ascent of the Giro d’Italia.

Don’t be fooled by the spectacular landscapes that this wonderful 40 km route encompasses, because before the charming town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, you’ll have to overcome some steep slopes. Nonetheless, this is the place to see the overwhelming beauty of the Italian Dolomites in all their glory.

There’s one stage in La Vuelta a España that makes riders apprehensive: the climb to Angliru. Located in the fabulous Ubiñas Natural Park in Asturias, watching the dance of riders and their bikes swaying from one side to the other as they navigate this mountain pass is a spectacle, especially on hills that reach a gradient of up to 23 per cent. It’s a challenge within reach of the hardiest of cyclists. Will you be among them?

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