Stage 0: El Grado- Alquézar / Bierge
A trip through the most authentic and rural areas of Somontano and Sierra de Guara.
This stage of the competition has two possible endings and allows two different routes from Naval. The original, passing through Colungo is more demanding offering great panoramic views and riding on well maintained tracks.
- Variant 1; cycling through the most rural areas of Somontano is smoother but more adventurous, passing through Salinas de Hoz and Salas Altas with some small trails. They both come togetherin Buera and before continuing towards Alquezar the rider will have to decide whether to spend the night there or continue to Bierge (11km further) where the next stage begins.
Water:
- El Grado, Naval, Colungo, Buera, Alquézar, Bierge
Food
- El Grado, Naval, Salinas de Hoz, Colungo, Buera, Alquézar, Bierge
We will begin in El Grado, municipality at the auction of the districts of Somontano, Ribagorza and Sobrarbe, a town with a lot of history and tradition, offering a good range of services. We will start next to the Hostal Bar 3 Caminos and we will take the road to Naval for 5.4 km passing through the town and enjoying the beautiful views of the reservoir and the Pyrenees. Once we pass the bridge over the river we will turn right and enter a pine forest ascending gently towards the depopulated area of Rosico. Having arrived at the Dolores Hermitage, near Naval, we will follow a concrete track to the main road and from there to Naval Bridge. At this point the rider must decide whether to follow the base track through Colungo or variant 1, through Salinas de Hoz. Notwithstanding, a visit to the Salinas de Naval is mandatory before continuing the trip. We will continue to ascend towards Naval and at the first crossing we will take the paved and dirt track towards Suelves, that takes us towards Campo Royo ascending through a pine forest with beautiful panoramic views of Guara and Tozal del Asba. We will ascendalong the ridge and then descendquickly (caution!), we will reach the road which takes us to Colungo. We will continue on this road for 3 km and then turn right on a track that goes down and then up, to visit the Dulcis Hermitage, a charming and historical monument. From there we will follow a paved track to Buera which will take us to the medieval Bridge of Albarda. (in variant 1, there is the option to follow a path that takes you to the bridge). After taking some photographs of the bridge we will continue on some tracks until we reach a road junction at the foot of Alquezar. There we must decide whether to ascend to Alquezar and spend the night in this monumental and medieval town, known as one of the most beautiful villages in Aragon or continue along track variant 2 towards Bierge (11 km and 100m+ of slope) where the next stage of our proper trip begins, passing through Rodiquero and Alberuelo de la Liena on local roads and enjoying the beautiful views of Sierra de Guara.
If it is decided to spend the night in Alquezar we will have to descend to this point of the road and take Track Variant 2 to Bierge. In short, a base track by Colungo, with more slopes, but on tracks and roads in good condition. While Track Variant 1, through Salinas de Hoz is somewhat softer, it traverses solitary landscapes, villages and charming places along tracks and small stretches of path in a more adventurous way. Whatever you decide , you will enjoy a great trip through the Somontano de Barbastro.
We will begin in El Grado, municipality at the auction of the districts of Somontano, Ribagorza and Sobrarbe, a town with a lot of history and tradition, offering a good range of services. We will start next to the Hostal Bar 3 Caminos and we will take the road to Naval for 5.4 km passing through the town and enjoying the beautiful views of the reservoir and the Pyrenees. Once we pass the bridge over the river we will turn right and enter a pine forest ascending gently towards the depopulated area of Rosico. Having arrived at the Dolores Hermitage, near Naval, we will follow a concrete track to the main road and from there to Naval Bridge. At this point the rider must decide whether to follow the base track through Colungo or variant 1, through Salinas de Hoz. Notwithstanding, a visit to the Salinas de Naval is mandatory before continuing the trip. We will continue to ascend towards Naval and at the first crossing we will take the paved and dirt track towards Suelves, that takes us towards Campo Royo ascending through a pine forest with beautiful panoramic views of Guara and Tozal del Asba. We will ascendalong the ridge and then descendquickly (caution!), we will reach the road which takes us to Colungo. We will continue on this road for 3 km and then turn right on a track that goes down and then up, to visit the Dulcis Hermitage, a charming and historical monument. From there we will follow a paved track to Buera which will take us to the medieval Bridge of Albarda. (in variant 1, there is the option to follow a path that takes you to the bridge). After taking some photographs of the bridge we will continue on some tracks until we reach a road junction at the foot of Alquezar. There we must decide whether to ascend to Alquezar and spend the night in this monumental and medieval town, known as one of the most beautiful villages in Aragon or continue along track variant 2 towards Bierge (11 km and 100m+ of slope) where the next stage of our proper trip begins, passing through Rodiquero and Alberuelo de la Liena on local roads and enjoying the beautiful views of Sierra de Guara.
If it is decided to spend the night in Alquezar we will have to descend to this point of the road and take Track Variant 2 to Bierge. In short, a base track by Colungo, with more slopes, but on tracks and roads in good condition. While Track Variant 1, through Salinas de Hoz is somewhat softer, it traverses solitary landscapes, villages and charming places along tracks and small stretches of path in a more adventurous way. Whatever you decide , you will enjoy a great trip through the Somontano de Barbastro.
