Checkpoints gravel/piste 2026

Pamplona – Castle San Cristóbal

Castle San Cristóbal, high above Pamplona, is Checkpoint 1 at km 100 and offers a spectacular view over the city and the surrounding countryside.

The fortress was built between 1879 and 1919, during the period of the Carlist Wars, as a strategic defence of Pamplona. From 1930 onwards, the complex was used as a prison.

During the Spanish Civil War, the fortress became a notorious prison. Around 2,000 political prisoners were held here, many of them under extremely harsh conditions. The prison was the scene of a major escape attempt in 1938, when hundreds of prisoners broke out, although most were recaptured.

Today, the fortress stands quietly above Pamplona, its impressive walls hiding a dark chapter of Spanish history.

Bardenas Reales – Desert

The Bardenas Reales is one of Spain’s most extraordinary landscapes — a vast semi-desert in southern Navarra shaped by wind and water over millions of years.

Eroded clay, sandstone cliffs, deep ravines and isolated hills create a landscape that looks almost otherworldly. The barren terrain is a striking contrast to the green landscapes of northern Spain.

For riders, crossing the Bardenas Reales is a memorable section of the route: remote, exposed and unlike almost anywhere else in Europe.

Molina de Aragón – Castillo

The Castillo de Molina de Aragón is one of the largest and most impressive medieval fortresses in Spain. Rising above the town of Molina de Aragón, its long walls, towers and battlements dominate the surrounding landscape.

Built on the remains of an earlier Muslim fortress, the castle became an important stronghold during the medieval struggles between Christian kingdoms and the Muslim territories to the south.

Today, the fortress stands above a remote and rugged part of Castilla-La Mancha – a fitting checkpoint for riders crossing the vast landscapes of central Spain.

Cuenca – Torre de Mangana

The Torre de Mangana stands in the heart of Cuenca’s historic old town, marking the site of the former Muslim fortress and later medieval city walls.

The tower has become one of the symbols of Cuenca, rising above the city with its distinctive clock and offering views across the surrounding landscape. From here, the route continues through one of the most spectacular and historic regions of central Spain.

Cuenca is another reminder that this journey is not only about distance and climbing – it also takes riders through centuries of Spanish history.

Castillo de Alarcón

Rising dramatically above the Júcar River, the medieval Castillo de Alarcón dominates the small hilltop village of Alarcón.

The castle dates back to the Muslim period and was later expanded after the Christian reconquest. Surrounded by ancient walls and perched above the deep river gorge, it makes an impressive landmark on the route through central Spain.

After the long open roads of the surrounding countryside, the arrival at Alarcón feels like a journey back in time – another of those unexpected historic places that make the Spanish section so special.

El Cuartico

Halfway through the Spanish section!

This lonely building southwest of Albacete marks an important point on the route.

From here begins a 57 km flat section along a former railway line, now converted into a rail trail. The route passes through a remote rural landscape and several tunnels – a welcome change of rhythm after the climbing and rugged terrain of the first half of the Spanish section.

Not a famous landmark. Not a tourist attraction. Just one of those places that becomes memorable because you reached it by bike.

Gorafe Desert

The Gorafe Desert is one of the most unusual landscapes in Andalucía. Deeply eroded clay formations, barren valleys and dramatic ridges create a landscape that feels more like the American Southwest than southern Spain.

The route crosses this remote and rugged terrain on the way east, with the small village of Gorafe as a natural landmark in the middle of the desert. After the green landscapes around Granada, the sudden change in scenery makes this section especially memorable for riders.

A true taste of the wild side of Andalucía.

Granada, Plaza Mirador de San Nicolás

“The best view of the Alhambra in the city. Gateway to the Sierra Nevada.” – Jesse Blough, 2019

The Mirador de San Nicolás is one of Granada’s most famous viewpoints, offering a spectacular panorama of the Alhambra with the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada rising behind it.

Located in the historic Albaicín quarter, the viewpoint is surrounded by narrow streets, whitewashed houses and the atmosphere of old Granada. For riders, it is a memorable checkpoint – and a chance to take in one of the great views of Andalucía.

Antequera – Castillo de Papabellotas

The Castillo de Papabellotas stands high above Antequera, overlooking the historic town and the surrounding landscapes of Málaga province.

The castle dates back to the Muslim period and is one of the most prominent landmarks of Antequera. Its elevated position makes it an impressive arrival point for riders – and a good place to look back at the kilometres already covered across Andalucía.

El Chorro – Caminito del Rey

El Chorro is one of the most spectacular places on the route through southern Spain. The area is famous for the Caminito del Rey, a spectacular walkway suspended high above the narrow Gaitanes Gorge.

Our route passes through this dramatic landscape, with steep rock walls, deep gorges and the turquoise waters of the Guadalhorce reservoirs. It is a place where the scenery makes even a short stop memorable.

For the riders, El Chorro is more than just another checkpoint – it is one of the visual highlights of the Spanish section.

Ronda, Puente Nuevo

“A huge old bridge into a beautiful Andalucian city.” – Jesse Blough, 2019

Ronda is one of the most spectacular towns in Andalucía, dramatically perched above the El Tajo gorge. Its iconic Puente Nuevo spans the gorge and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in southern Spain.

For riders, Ronda is a memorable landmark on the way south – a place where the impressive landscape, historic town and legendary bridge come together. From here, the route continues towards Tarifa and the southern tip of Europe.

Tarifa

The Tuna Sculpture – Tarifa
Over the years, the Tuna fish sculpture has become a legendary landmark for our participants. NorthCape-Tarifa, Iberica-Traversa and 45-SouthWest all finish at this iconic spot in Tarifa — the southernmost point of the European mainland.

For 2-Continents riders, Tarifa marks the end of the Spanish section before the route continues across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco.

Chefchaouen (Rif Mountains)

It is the chief town of the province of the same name and is noted for its buildings in shades of blue, for which it is nicknamed the “Blue City”.
It was founded in 1471 by the Moulay Ali Ben Rachid, a distant descendant of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. The original settlement consisted of just a small fortress, now referred to as Chefchaouen’s Kasbah. The fortress was erected to help defend the area from potential attacks by Portuguese invaders; at the time, Portugal was launching attacks against northern cities and towns in Morocco.

Ahouli mines

Ahouli is an abandoned mining village in Midle Atlas. Once one of the most important lead deposits in Morocco, the nearby Ahouli and Mibladen mines are now abandoned. It is located on a valley along upper Moulouya river, about 25 kilometers north from Midelt.

The French company Penarroya operated the sites from 1928 to the 1960s, employing hundreds of Moroccan workers and producing tens of thousands of tons of lead annually, most of which was exported to France.

La Cité d’Orion

“La Cité d’Orion” is situated on a new 55km long piste section starting south of the Valée de Ziz palm grove, one of the biggest in Maroc. The “City of Orion” was built between 1998 and 2003 by the German artist Hannsjörg Voth.

“La Cité d’Orion” is made up of 7 large towers that form a three-dimensional model of the constellation of Orion. Once again its intention is to connect the earth to the sky and more particularly to the celestial. The constellation of Orion is one of the most mythical constellations in many civilizations. It is notably associated with Osiris among the Egyptians but is also present in Sumerian, Greek (from which it takes its name) or Chinese mythology.
The arrangements of these towers are not insignificant: their dimensions have been calculated in proportion to the size and brightness of the stars. The rectangular towers are built in cob, like its previous desertic works. They are obviously observatory towers allowing to follow the course of the 7 most visible stars of the constellation.
Source: Senses Atlas

The Golden Spiral

The Golden Spiral is the second new checkpoint and located in the Marha plain a short distance after La Cité d’Orion. This immense work of art was Hannsjörg Voth second project in the Marha plain and built from 1993 until 1997 with local artisan using their hand skills in a traditional manner.

Stairway to Heaven

The Himmelstreppe (Stairway to Heaven) was built and self-financed from Hannsjörg Voth between 1980 and 1987. Fascinated by astronomy, he built a staircase whose top side walls are narrowed, creating a vertical slit facing the stars. The structure/sculpture is 19m high and has 56 steps, creating a shadow that runs all around. The interior of this monumental staircase is also accessible, as different rooms are built into the structure.
Source: Senses Atlas

La Cárcel Portuguesa

This crater was used as a film stage for a James Bond film, as well as the Brendan Fraser blockbuster film, The Mummy. The Mummy (1999) is set in Egypt, but filmed mostly in Morocco. In the southeastern Moroccan desert, an entire set was built for the fictional Egyptian city, Hamunaptra. The set for this fictional city was constructed in a dormant volcanic crater close to the real-life oasis town, Erfoud.

Erg Chigaga

With a length of approximately 40 km to 15 km wide, some dunes around a height of 60 m (170 m more than Erg Chebbi), it is the largest and wildest of Morocco.
Starting from the oasis of M’Hamid El Ghizlane it is possible to reach the dunes area, by off-road vehicle, by camel and by off-road motorbike along an old caravan trail, however the approach route is not obvious and unless you have a GPS navigation system and relevant waypoints you are advised to engage a local guide.

Icht – the underground village

Icht is a small town located in the Draa-Tafilalet region of southeastern Morocco. It overlooks the Jbel Bani, the nearby escarpment which often reflects beautiful orange sunsets.

From a distance, Icht appears to be a typical village of the region. Despite this, the kasbah is unique as it is located meters underground. At the ground level, small doors lead to a labyrinth of underground alleys that serve the various houses. Sometimes exceeding 3 floors. Each house is bridged by a big skylight, which illuminates and ventilates the rooms dug into the earth.

FINISH: Sidi Ifni

Sidi Ifni is a city located in southwest Morocco, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of approximately 20,000 people and the economic base of the city is fishing.

Sidi Ifni served as a Spanish port city from the mid-19th century until it was ceded to Morocco in 1969. From the 1930s until the late 1960s, the town hosted a large Spanish population.

Sidi Ifni is known as a surf spot. Just a few meters from the finish you get the chance for some surf lessons.