HD - 206 Minutes

The Vuelta a Andalucía (Ruta del Sol / Tour of Andalusia) is an annual professional stage race held in sunny southern Spain, part of the wider pro cycling calendar (and often raced on dramatic, punchy terrain).

Our day on the bike, though, wasn’t the pro stage race—it was the legendary local Gran Fondo LA SUFRIDA (Cicloruta Internacional Serranía de Ronda). “Sufrida” translates as “long-suffering,” and the name says it all: it’s a demanding ride that tests legs and mindset with long climbs, rolling mountain roads, and relentless elevation through the rugged Serranía de Ronda.

The event has been run for many editions, and depending on the year the start and finish can move between different white villages across the region, adding to its sense of adventure. The routes shown in our videos capture some of the best (and toughest) scenery in the area—Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves, the Ronda mountains, and Ubrique—pure Andalusian cycling: steep ramps, sweeping descents, and views that make the suffering worth it.