The best gravel rides around Alconaba

Stage 1. Soria/Duruelo de la Sierra 106 kilometers. 1,240 meters of elevation gain. The stage's altitude data borders on a peaceful day of cycling from a medium-level perspective, especially the elevation gain concentrated in the final stretch, between Hontoria del Pinar and Duruelo de la Sierra. The stage can be divided into two days, with the first night's stop in San Leonardo de Yagüe, which has all the necessary amenities. In these bikepacking reports and suggestions, I try to provide information, suggestions, and opinions on optimal routes, routes, and terrain for enjoyable gravel bike travel. However, these data should always be assessed subjectively, allowing each cyclist to establish their own travel style and pace, depending on the tour company, the time of year, their goals, or their personal taste. A beautiful part of traveling is making each experience your own adventure. The milestones are marked, indicating paths, outstanding places, points of interest, or discoveries made by other cycle travelers, but each cyclist must find their own inspiration, and it will always be a unique journey. The Duero River has been a frontier since the dawn of Iberian civilizations, and Soria a strategic stronghold in a territory of conquest and power. And whenever I begin a bike trip in Soria, I always look for the riverbank to mark the starting point, at the foot of the Parque del Castillo, a natural space with an atmosphere of bygone eras marked by the power of a watercourse around a medieval fortress. A quiet and convenient place to park is the Paseo de San Prudencio parking lot, near the Romanesque chapels that distinguish the city's historical and artistic heritage. Along the riverside paths, there are gardens, recreational areas, kiosks, and inspiring sculptures, and on the opposite bank are the Church of San Polo and the Chapel of San Saturio, two jewels of Soria's Romanesque architecture. And there are also the signposts for the Senda del Duero Nature Trail, where the return route begins. The sign for the start of the Santander-Mediterranean Nature Trail section between Soria and Hontoria del Pinar is next to the train station, in another part of the city. The connection from the banks of the Duero River between the two Nature Trails has no specific signage; it follows the river along the riverside promenade, passes the San Saturio pedestrian bridge, and climbs along the University of Soria bike path to the Carretera de Madrid roundabout. The best route I've found in this area of industrial estates and vacant lots to reach the route of the old Santander railway is to go up Eduardo Saavedra Street to a crossroads where there are some car dealerships, turning left onto Camino del Cañuelo. This is a somewhat winding but effective route for reaching the "ground zero" of the Santander-Mediterranean Nature Trail by bike. The trail is located at the train station exit, with an information panel and the first red signs indicating the crossing points. And then it's time to pedal toward the forest kingdom of Tierra Pinariega and the Picos de Urbión. The first few kilometers fly by; it's a rural area, the villages are far from the railway, and you simply have to glide along the magnificent gravel surface of the old railway, seeing the remains of the stops, stations, and milestones of the Nature Trail. Ocenilla is a district of Cidones, close to the railway crossing, at the foot of the solitary Cabrejas mountain range. It's easy to cycle to the entrance of the village and see the sculpture of the Warrior of Ocenilla, a striking representation of a Celtiberian warrior found in the drawings of a 3rd-century BC vase, associated with the Numantian culture. The route winds along endless straight stretches alongside the Cabrejas mountain range and enters Tierra Pinariega through the municipalities of Abejar and Cabrejas del Pinar. Some milestones bear the yellow arrows of the Castilian-Aragonese Way of St. James.

Ocenilla is a hamlet belonging to the municipality of Cidones. It is located 15 km from the capital, Soria. In the distance, beneath the foothills of the Sierra de Cabrejas, you can see the Pico Frentes. Access is the same as to Cidones, taking the N-234. Festivals include St. Anthony of Padua on June 13th and St. Stephen's Day on December 26th. A Celtiberian fortress stands here, part of the wall still stands today. The economy is based primarily on livestock farming. Among the plants, the oak stands out. Typical dishes include perolo on Christmas Eve and cachula, or pork blood broth. Art and Sights in Ocenilla Hermitage of San Antonio Church of San Esteban Archaeological Remains Don Simón Spring (Natural Spring) Ivy Spring (Natural Spring) Old Washhouse (Old Washhouse) Source: https://www.cidones.es/ocenilla

Following the Cantabria-Mediterranean greenway we arrive at the old Toledillo halt, with a bench in the shade to take a break with these spectacular views of the front peak

good shadow to rest

The church of Santo Domingo, from the 12th century, is one of the jewels of Soria's Romanesque. Especially noteworthy is its cover rich in stone carvings.

Beautiful meadow where one of the most important festivities in Soria is celebrated, the festivities of San Juan. In the vicinity of the place we will find indicative panels of interesting cave paintings.

Rolling along the Golmayo River, we come across this beautiful metallic viaduct that was built to cross the Golmayo River valley. Located next to the Carlos IV bridge, it offers us a beautiful picture to photograph.

Wide meadow with good views