La Mirada Cicurclar - 6C
Name: La Mirada Cicurclar - 6C
Start/Finish: Ponferrada, Spain
Length: 155.2 miles
GPX: Strava Link
Description: Seis Caminos is a circular route of 225km that runs through the mountains that form the valley defining the Bierzo, an ancient region in Northwest Spain. This route unites segments of the various Caminos de Santiago pilgrimage routes which pass through this territory including the Camino de Santiago Frances, The Forgotten Route (Camino Olvidado), The old Camino de Santiago (Camino Viejo), the Winter Route (Camino de Invierno), the Camino de Manzanal, and many smaller trekking and cycling routes such as the route of the water mills and the route of cherries and chestnuts.
The route passes through countless small pueblos, many lost to time, but most continuing their idyllic rural way of life. There is a UNESCO World Heritage site (Las Medullas, an ancient Roman gold mine) as well as countless monasteries, ermitas, and churches of cultural interest. The Bierzo is also a fertile and unique agricultural region, and the route passes by vineyards, cherry, pear, apple, and fig orchards, and pasture lands used by free-ranging cattle, sheep, and goats.
The Bierzo has a unique climate, with a confluence of Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Rainy Coastal climate types and all the flora and fauna that these diverse climates support.
Unsupported:
Men:
Women:
NonBinary:
Team:
Supported:
Men:
Women:
Team:
Para:
Name: La Mirada Cicurclar - 6C
Start/Finish: Ponferrada, Spain
Length: 155.2 miles
GPX: Strava Link
Description: Seis Caminos is a circular route of 225km that runs through the mountains that form the valley defining the Bierzo, an ancient region in Northwest Spain. This route unites segments of the various Caminos de Santiago pilgrimage routes which pass through this territory including the Camino de Santiago Frances, The Forgotten Route (Camino Olvidado), The old Camino de Santiago (Camino Viejo), the Winter Route (Camino de Invierno), the Camino de Manzanal, and many smaller trekking and cycling routes such as the route of the water mills and the route of cherries and chestnuts.
The route passes through countless small pueblos, many lost to time, but most continuing their idyllic rural way of life. There is a UNESCO World Heritage site (Las Medullas, an ancient Roman gold mine) as well as countless monasteries, ermitas, and churches of cultural interest. The Bierzo is also a fertile and unique agricultural region, and the route passes by vineyards, cherry, pear, apple, and fig orchards, and pasture lands used by free-ranging cattle, sheep, and goats.
The Bierzo has a unique climate, with a confluence of Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Rainy Coastal climate types and all the flora and fauna that these diverse climates support.
Unsupported:
Men:
Women:
NonBinary:
- Nichola Proia Cecchi 5/27/2026, 26:31:35
Team:
Supported:
Men:
Women:
Team:
Para:
Notes from the route:
From Nichola Proia Cecchi- I rode to the start of my effort from Ponferrada and began the route in Priaranza de Bierzo. I was quickly into the first climb through vineyards and cherry orchards, and the sun was continuing to rise as I climbed the mountains on the Southern rim of the valley. The terrain is very exposed here, with areas seeming almost alp-like so I was happy to pass through this in the morning before the heat of the day. I arrived in Bembibre, approximately ⅓ done with the route, and though I was making slower time than I had hoped I was still feeling quite good.
Shortly after departing Bembibre I rode through deep, sticky mud which clogged my drivetrain, wheels, everything, I scraped off what I could and was fortunate to arrive at a crystal clear creek flowing beneath an ancient water mill only 10km later. I bathed my bike and happily continued onwards. Here I began to experience the difficult single and double track which would come to define the rest of the ride for me. Much of the route was through dense foliage, often blackberry brambles and other thorny plants, which beyond the technical difficulty of the trail itself, made progress quite slow.
I rode along old canals dotted with water mills, through agricultural tracks, under exposed cliff faces and overhanging precipices, passing through ancient villages seemingly frozen in time every 15-20km. The views and sensations were unreal and despite pressing on trying to set a good time, I managed to stop to snack on the wild and overgrown cherries which are currently perfectly ripe. I arrived in Villafranca de Bierzo in relatively good time and good spirits and wasted no time getting into the second to last significant climb of the route - 500m vertical with ramps up to 20% passing the Caste of Coronatel. I summited just as the light was leaving the sky and carefully descended into a river valley.
It had been threatening rain all day, and as the sun set, electrical storms started to light up the sky to the South - exactly where I was heading. I rode until near midnight when I decided to take shelter in a small village while extremely heavy rain, wind and lightning rolled through. I bivvied underneath the overhang of an abandoned house and managed to sleep a bit while waiting for the storms to dissipate. Around 4:30am I got going again and was greeted by clearing skies and views of stars and the Milky Way. Here I encountered the most infuriating routing issue of this effort when I rode to the location where there was supposed to be a bridge over the vast and fast-moving Rio Sil. The bridge was gone with a new one under construction but as yet unfinished. I retraced my route, connected via a different path, and rode to the opposite bank of the river where I resumed the route. This was a costly and difficult detour, especially at 5:30am, though I did at least get some coffee out of it with a gas station stop.
From here, I began the 10km long, 500+m climb past Las Medullas, the UNESCO recognized Roman gold mine which is a primary symbol and attraction of this region. It was stunning climbing into this otherworldly, transhumanist landscape with the sun rising above the towering geological formations. I reached the summit and from here had only one additional small climb and several kilometers of bushwacking through lost singletrack to arrive back at my starting point. I had initially thought I might complete the route in 14-16 hours, but the difficult singletrack sections, navigational challenges on remote and nearly lost agricultural roads and ancient paths, and the electrical storm had turned this into a 26 ½ hour epic. On one hand, I think it should be quite easy to beat this time, while on the other I think this is an extremely challenging route for which the correct bike does not exist, and will challenge whoever takes it on in unforeseen and unforgiving ways. But what a prize the experience, the views, and the ripe wild cherries were.
Route Notes:
I had to diverge from the established route several times to respect real world conditions (particularly safety) and change and evolution of these trails and agricultural and fire roads over time. All km descriptors are from km 0 = Paradela de Muces, which is the route as drawn and published on the creator’s website. I started and finished my effort in Priaranza de Bierzo which is km 7.55.
km 85 - a portion of singletrack that runs along the arroyo and to the side of the road. Where the start of this singletrack appeared on the original route I found only blackberry brambles and thorns but exited the road at my first opportunity. It was still blackberry brambles and thorns but had a trace of singletrack to follow.
km 100 - the path (part of the Camino de Santiago Olvidado here) is closed with an electric fence and “Coto de Caza Privada” sign (Private hunting ground) I went around but then was able to clearly see the route from where I rejoined, so I rode backwards to the point I departed from (no signs on this side!) and then re-rode the route.
km 103.5 - the road that crosses the arroyo and climbs along the East side is completely lost and the arroyo now flows freely with no obvious or safe water crossing. It appeared too deep to ford. I climbed the equal (and steeper) route on the West side of the arroyo in order to keep moving.
km 149 - Bushwacking through blackberries to find out that the downed tree that had been the bridge to cross the river has been cut away and cleared. The current was very deep and fast here and I was solo so I chose not to ford the river. I backtracked (more bushwhacking!) and crossed the river at the nearest bridge, then picked up the route on the North side of the river.
km 168.5 - Road construction in Villafranca de Bierzo, I went around it, rejoined by climbing a staircase at first opportunity.
km 197 - The route brings you to what was once a bridge over the Rio Sil, a quite significant span over a large and fast moving river. The bridge is gone. A new one is under construction. I rode around, then rejoined the route on the other side of the river, then continued on the route.
km 217 - Agricultural road closed and plowed over, slight deviation to go around.
km 06 - My track and the published track diverge intermittently here. The route, as it is or was, is completely lost to overgrowth and I was mostly bushwacking and following my GPS.
My Garmin died with only ~ 8km to ride so I switched to recording on my phone and merged the files using an online GPX merge tool. I am happy to provide both original files for further verification and time stamping, but everything seemed to merge fine. I have time stamped photos at start and finish and at the majority of the course deviations.
From Nichola Proia Cecchi- I rode to the start of my effort from Ponferrada and began the route in Priaranza de Bierzo. I was quickly into the first climb through vineyards and cherry orchards, and the sun was continuing to rise as I climbed the mountains on the Southern rim of the valley. The terrain is very exposed here, with areas seeming almost alp-like so I was happy to pass through this in the morning before the heat of the day. I arrived in Bembibre, approximately ⅓ done with the route, and though I was making slower time than I had hoped I was still feeling quite good.
Shortly after departing Bembibre I rode through deep, sticky mud which clogged my drivetrain, wheels, everything, I scraped off what I could and was fortunate to arrive at a crystal clear creek flowing beneath an ancient water mill only 10km later. I bathed my bike and happily continued onwards. Here I began to experience the difficult single and double track which would come to define the rest of the ride for me. Much of the route was through dense foliage, often blackberry brambles and other thorny plants, which beyond the technical difficulty of the trail itself, made progress quite slow.
I rode along old canals dotted with water mills, through agricultural tracks, under exposed cliff faces and overhanging precipices, passing through ancient villages seemingly frozen in time every 15-20km. The views and sensations were unreal and despite pressing on trying to set a good time, I managed to stop to snack on the wild and overgrown cherries which are currently perfectly ripe. I arrived in Villafranca de Bierzo in relatively good time and good spirits and wasted no time getting into the second to last significant climb of the route - 500m vertical with ramps up to 20% passing the Caste of Coronatel. I summited just as the light was leaving the sky and carefully descended into a river valley.
It had been threatening rain all day, and as the sun set, electrical storms started to light up the sky to the South - exactly where I was heading. I rode until near midnight when I decided to take shelter in a small village while extremely heavy rain, wind and lightning rolled through. I bivvied underneath the overhang of an abandoned house and managed to sleep a bit while waiting for the storms to dissipate. Around 4:30am I got going again and was greeted by clearing skies and views of stars and the Milky Way. Here I encountered the most infuriating routing issue of this effort when I rode to the location where there was supposed to be a bridge over the vast and fast-moving Rio Sil. The bridge was gone with a new one under construction but as yet unfinished. I retraced my route, connected via a different path, and rode to the opposite bank of the river where I resumed the route. This was a costly and difficult detour, especially at 5:30am, though I did at least get some coffee out of it with a gas station stop.
From here, I began the 10km long, 500+m climb past Las Medullas, the UNESCO recognized Roman gold mine which is a primary symbol and attraction of this region. It was stunning climbing into this otherworldly, transhumanist landscape with the sun rising above the towering geological formations. I reached the summit and from here had only one additional small climb and several kilometers of bushwacking through lost singletrack to arrive back at my starting point. I had initially thought I might complete the route in 14-16 hours, but the difficult singletrack sections, navigational challenges on remote and nearly lost agricultural roads and ancient paths, and the electrical storm had turned this into a 26 ½ hour epic. On one hand, I think it should be quite easy to beat this time, while on the other I think this is an extremely challenging route for which the correct bike does not exist, and will challenge whoever takes it on in unforeseen and unforgiving ways. But what a prize the experience, the views, and the ripe wild cherries were.
Route Notes:
I had to diverge from the established route several times to respect real world conditions (particularly safety) and change and evolution of these trails and agricultural and fire roads over time. All km descriptors are from km 0 = Paradela de Muces, which is the route as drawn and published on the creator’s website. I started and finished my effort in Priaranza de Bierzo which is km 7.55.
km 85 - a portion of singletrack that runs along the arroyo and to the side of the road. Where the start of this singletrack appeared on the original route I found only blackberry brambles and thorns but exited the road at my first opportunity. It was still blackberry brambles and thorns but had a trace of singletrack to follow.
km 100 - the path (part of the Camino de Santiago Olvidado here) is closed with an electric fence and “Coto de Caza Privada” sign (Private hunting ground) I went around but then was able to clearly see the route from where I rejoined, so I rode backwards to the point I departed from (no signs on this side!) and then re-rode the route.
km 103.5 - the road that crosses the arroyo and climbs along the East side is completely lost and the arroyo now flows freely with no obvious or safe water crossing. It appeared too deep to ford. I climbed the equal (and steeper) route on the West side of the arroyo in order to keep moving.
km 149 - Bushwacking through blackberries to find out that the downed tree that had been the bridge to cross the river has been cut away and cleared. The current was very deep and fast here and I was solo so I chose not to ford the river. I backtracked (more bushwhacking!) and crossed the river at the nearest bridge, then picked up the route on the North side of the river.
km 168.5 - Road construction in Villafranca de Bierzo, I went around it, rejoined by climbing a staircase at first opportunity.
km 197 - The route brings you to what was once a bridge over the Rio Sil, a quite significant span over a large and fast moving river. The bridge is gone. A new one is under construction. I rode around, then rejoined the route on the other side of the river, then continued on the route.
km 217 - Agricultural road closed and plowed over, slight deviation to go around.
km 06 - My track and the published track diverge intermittently here. The route, as it is or was, is completely lost to overgrowth and I was mostly bushwacking and following my GPS.
My Garmin died with only ~ 8km to ride so I switched to recording on my phone and merged the files using an online GPX merge tool. I am happy to provide both original files for further verification and time stamping, but everything seemed to merge fine. I have time stamped photos at start and finish and at the majority of the course deviations.