Hello !
Last year I had a 12 days long bicycle tour in Andalucia, Spain. My ai was to cycle up to Pico Veleta (3394 m) and anther high climbs above 2000m + few another panoramic roads.
I cycled Pico Veleta twice: 1st I was cycling from the beach of Motril carrying 25-28kg weighted panniers on it and at midnight I turned back after reaching the end of the pavement.
2 days ater I cycled back to Veleta from Granada without panniers but in ideal lights and strong wind. The view was superb: the sea, GIbraltar could be seen and Africa too (a little bit). UP to now I cycled all of the paved ascents of the Alps, Pyrenées and Canary islands finishing above 2000m, and after them I can say, this climb is between the 3 most wonderful ascents.
The list of my climbs with the links of videos about cycling them:
http://www.gyorgyigabor.hu/GYG_osszes_hago.phpI have the compilation / best of video about these two days of cycling up to Pico Veleta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFzaebbuOwIn the last few weeks I uploaded 2 videos about 2 another paved climbs going above 2000 m in Andalucia.
The 1st, Puerto de la Ragua (2000 m) can be found in Sierra Nevada, the same mountain range, where Pico Veleta can be found: it isa panoramic road!
The 2nd climb is not too known: Tetica de Bacares (2080 m, with 360 degrees panorama) is situated ca. 80 kms North from Almeria.
There is a saddle not far from the peak: Puerto de Velefique (1860 m): it was visited by Vuelta a'Espagna I think minimum twice. I saw Indurain sign on a rock along the mountain road The ascent to that saddle is very scenic because of the lot of hairpin-bends.
Puerto de la Ragua (2000 m) northern ascent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtTNJWHiJpITetica de Bacares from South:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VZvgf9OySIIn the video the climb starts at the ca. 14th minute
Best regards,
www.gyorgyigabor.hu
