Above San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Alto de Abantos climbs the northern flank of Monte Abantos in the Sierra de Guadarrama, with the imposing royal monastery of El Escorial as its backdrop.
A steady climb through the Sierra de Guadarrama
From San Lorenzo de El Escorial, it’s 14.2 km for 803 m of elevation gain, averaging a moderate 5.6%, with a steeper section around 17% over a short stretch. The road tops out at around 1,650 m on the slopes of Monte Abantos.
A historic Vuelta a España classic
A regular fixture of the Vuelta a España through the 1980s to 2000s, this climb is remembered for one of the most striking turnarounds in the race’s history: in 2003, during a mountain time trial held here, Roberto Heras took back more than two minutes on Isidro Nozal to seize the leader’s jersey. The road hasn’t featured in the Vuelta since 2008.
When to go
April to October — snow and frost can affect the heights of the Sierra de Guadarrama outside that window.
Good to know
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, at the foot of the climb, lets you visit the Escorial monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before or after the ride — one of the most-visited historic sites near Madrid.
