Subida a las Antenas

Subida a las Antenas

Subida a las Antenas de Navamorcuende is a vertical race that climbs from the centre of Navamorcuende (Toledo) up to the transmitter area on the Piélago hill, in the Sierra de San Vicente. It is around 5 kilometres with about 700 metres of positive elevation, with barely a flat metre, and the event hosts the Castilla-La Mancha Vertical Kilometre Championship of the FDMCM.

A 5-kilometre course, all uphill

The route links village streets, forest track and sierra trail in a constant gradient progression. The average is around 14% and there are ramps steeper than 25%, with the ground alternating dirt, loose stone and chestnut-wood leaf litter. There is no descent: you start flat out and reach the antennas with your legs cooked, in between 40 minutes and 2 hours depending on level.

The Sierra de San Vicente and the Piélago

The Sierra de San Vicente is a granite massif, a forward outpost of Gredos, separating the Tagus valley from Alta Extremadura. The Piélago chestnut wood, which part of the climb runs through, is one of the best-preserved chestnut forests in central Spain, spectacular in autumn. From the antennas the view takes in Talavera, the Tagus valley and the wall of Gredos to the north.

November in the Toledo sierra

In late November, Navamorcuende wakes to light frost, and the finish, 700 metres higher, can be several degrees colder and wind-exposed. A windbreaker to pull on as soon as you cross the line is almost mandatory. See more races in Castilla-La Mancha and plan your weekend with the planner.