IBERIAN ROAD 2026

7 to 11 October 2026. Santiago to València

From 7 to 11 October 2026 we held the first edition of IBERIAN Road, starting in Santiago de Compostela. A 1,066 km road crossing with 13,930 m+ that traversed the peninsula from west to east to València, fully unsupported and with a 110 hour time limit.

32 riders from eight countries started, solo and in pairs. 26 of them reached the finish in València.

It was a route of contrasting landscapes. It began among the forests and valleys of Galicia, following the Camino de Santiago in reverse to O Cebreiro. It continued through the Montes de León and the vineyards of El Bierzo, and opened up into the straights and long horizons of Tierra de Campos. Then came the beech forests of the Sierra de Ayllón, the canyons and pine forests of the Alto Tajo and the Sierra de Albarracín, before losing altitude towards the Mediterranean.

The weather was just as varied. There was cold, heat, rain and starry nights. A very complete edition, the kind that makes you manage each day differently.

2026 IN REVIEW. FROM SANTIAGO TO VALÈNCIA

The route left the Galician capital, where many journeys end, and crossed the peninsula from west to east.

1.066

13.930

Elevation gain (m)

110

Time limit (h)

2026 CHECKPOINTS

CP1

Ponferrada

CP2

Valencia de Don Juan

CP3

Riaza

CP4

Sigüenza

CP5

Albarracín

GALICIA

The route left Santiago de Compostela and followed much of the Camino de Santiago by road, in reverse. After leaving the city, it crossed the river Miño and headed into the Galician hills, an area of constant gradients, dense forests and small valleys.

Riders often met pilgrims on their last kilometres to Santiago and the slow pace of livestock. Galicia was left behind at O Cebreiro, a historic spot that closed this first block.

MONTES DE LEÓN

After O Cebreiro, the route entered an area of broad ridges and quiet roads, drier than Galicia, with long climbs and long descents. From there it dropped into El Bierzo, a region of fertile valleys and vineyards.

CP1 was in Ponferrada. Leaving El Bierzo meant tackling another mountain range before reaching more open terrain.

TIERRA DE CAMPOS

The flattest part of the whole route. Open land, with long horizons and very quiet roads where straights followed one another between cereal fields. The kilometres went by fast here, but the wind usually had something to say.

CP2 was in Valencia de Don Juan, next to its castle. As the distance grew, the plains were left behind on the way to Riaza.

SISTEMA CENTRAL

From Riaza, the route climbed through the Hayedo de la Pedrosa and the Sierra de Ayllón, with beech forests starting to change colour in early autumn. A long, calm climb surrounded by forest.

After the top, the route dropped through wide valleys to Sigüenza, home to CP4.

SISTEMA IBÉRICO

Leaving Sigüenza, the route entered one of the most depopulated areas of the peninsula. It crossed the Alto Tajo, a land of canyons, pine forests and clear water, and continued to the Sierra de Albarracín and CP5.

Then the route slowly lost altitude as it headed for the Mediterranean and the finish in València.

DOTWATCHING REPLAY

Relive the adventure dot by dot, with every rider’s track.

IN THEIR WORDS

"The best part, the landscapes of Galicia, the climb after Ponferrada, the mountains around La Quesera and the area around Albarracín."

Jose Luis Boronat, Iberian Road 2026

"Organisation and support. TOP! The best!"

Juan Amorós, Iberian Road 2026

"Thank you very much for the event, it was a great season ender."

Thom de Waal, Iberian Road 2026

PHOTOS OF THE EDITION

Photos by @pedro_twi and GRAVAL

2027 EDITION IN PREPARATION

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