Ribeira Sacra Cycling Road 2026

The route

Ribeira Sacra Cycling Road reaches its sixth edition from Nogueira de Ramuín, on the Ourense bank of the Sil. Two distances are available: 120 km and 75 km. The Ribeira Sacra is one of Galicia's most recognisable landscapes: the gorges of the Sil and the Miño with their steeply terraced vineyards, medieval monasteries perched above the river, and centuries-old stone villages. The roads are narrow, technical, and with descents towards the Sil that in some sections demand sustained concentration.

The route moves back and forth across the canyon slopes, with descents to the river that can lose 400-500 m of altitude over a short distance before climbing straight back up. The profile is very jagged: high accumulated elevation relative to total kilometres. The plateau sections at 700-800 m are the fastest and most open parts of the route; the descents to the river are the most technical and call for attention on a road surface where granite makes frequent appearances. The 75 km cuts the furthest sections but keeps the essence of the canyon.

September in the Ribeira Sacra is the best time of year: clear skies, temperatures of 20-28°C, and the vineyards at their most photogenic before harvest. Wind inside the Sil gorges is very well sheltered by the sheer rock walls: the most enclosed sections are near-calm or have only very gentle local air currents. On the plateau sections at 700-800 m a NE wind of 15-20 km/h can appear, moderate and manageable. Wind is not the main factor on this route; terrain and the focus required on each descent is what defines the day.

Nogueira de Ramuín is 25 km from Ourense on secondary roads. September is high season in the Ribeira Sacra: weekends bring a lot of wine tourism and cycling visitors, so accommodation should be booked several weeks ahead. The exact date is to be confirmed but typically falls in the second or third week of September, in the middle of the harvest season.

Variants and GPX

Past editions

Real Open-Meteo weather on each edition day.

How to register

Registration, price and rules are on the official website of the organization. Official march website →

More information

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