Desafío Lagos de Covadonga: the route and how to prepare
- Distance
- 111 km
- Climbing
- 2,420 m
- Highest point
- 1,113 m
- Categorised climbs
- 8 · up to 17 %
- Shape
- Point to point
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
4–1,113 m · 8 categorised climbsThe 6 biggest of 8 categorised climbs, in the order you ride them.
The Desafío Lagos de Covadonga is a sportive in the Picos de Europa, in Asturias, that finishes on one of the most famous climbs of the Vuelta: the road to the Lakes of Covadonga. The Gran Fondo is 111 km with 2,340 m of climbing, over the Alto de la Tornería and the Alto de la Riensa before the final climb; there is also a Medio Fondo. The organiser's site gives 5 June 2027 for the next edition.
Desafío Lagos de Covadonga at a glance
- Where
- Asturias, Spain
- Official website
- desafiolagosdecovadonga.com ↗
- Next edition
- 5 June 2027
- Route
- Gran Fondo: 111 km, 2,340 m climbing
- Terrain
- Mountain — long climbs
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Desafío Lagos de Covadonga, 111 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
The Desafío Lagos de Covadonga is one route.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Fondo | 111 km | 2,340 m |
What the course asks of you
The final climb to the Lakes of Covadonga is about 12 km long and irregular, with steep ramps — La Huesera among them — and the most demanding sections in the second half. It comes at the end of a day already marked by La Tornería and La Riensa.
Everything before the lakes should be ridden with the lakes in mind: climb the first two passes within yourself and arrive at the foot of the final climb with energy and food in hand.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train long climbs: steady efforts of 30 to 60 minutes just below your threshold match the cols of the Desafío Lagos de Covadonga far better than short intervals.
- Build the long day: rides of five to seven hours in the final two months, towards the 111 km of the route you choose.
- Practise eating and drinking on a schedule, and descending: a mountain day is as much going down as going up.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Treating the first climb of the Desafío Lagos de Covadonga as a race: a long col ridden above the pace you can hold for hours costs you the rest of the day.
- Saving nothing for the last climb, where the most kilometres are already in your legs.
- Skipping food on the descents: the next climb starts with what you ate on the way down.
Prepare the Desafío Lagos de Covadonga with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing the Desafío Lagos de Covadonga, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation towards 5 June 2027: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is the Desafío Lagos de Covadonga 2027?
On Saturday, 5 June 2027, according to the organiser.
How long is the Desafío Lagos de Covadonga?
Gran Fondo: 111 km with 2,340 m of climbing. The Gran Fondo as the organiser lists it; the Medio Fondo is shorter.
How many riders take part?
About 3,000 riders in 2026.
Can I ride the course of the Desafío Lagos de Covadonga in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.