📍 Stage 9: Rionegro del Puente to Lubián | Via de la Plata by Bike 🇪🇸
🚴♂️ 71 km | ⛰️ Mountain Stage | 🏰 Puebla de Sanabria | 🌲 Puerto de Padornelo
Join me on one of the most epic and demanding stages of the Via de la Plata — cycling 71 kilometers from Rionegro del Puente to Lubián, deep into the heart of the Sanabria mountains.
This stage has it all:
00:00 – Sunrise in Rionegro del Puente
00:58 – Introduction
02:05 – Peaceful countryside roads
08:30 – The stunning medieval town of Puebla de Sanabria
09:04 – Footage of nature trails, forest paths, increasing elevation
10:11 – Spiritual Camino roads
13:08 – My first fall on the Camino
14:03 – Heavy and difficult paths with climbs
16:37 – Flooded paths with roads with some expertise
18:00 – The toughes climb toward the Padornelo pass at over 1,300m altitude
19:09 – Arrival in Lubián, on the edge of Galicia
🌄 This is where the Camino changes — from quiet plateaus to dramatic mountain passes. Whether you’re planning your own pilgrimage or just riding with me virtually, this video shows the real spirit of the journey.
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Hello good morning, another day. welcome to galicia It’s cold, it’s fresh. Today I have 70 kilometers ahead of me, with many climbs, we’ll see. The plan is to reach Lubian After puebla de sanabria Let’s see if there are legs for this Now everything is white After the rain that fell here yesterday Today it looks like it’s going to be sunny Bye Good morning from Rionegro del Puente. It’s early, the village is still asleep, and the air has that fresh, almost silent chill of northern Spain. I’ve got about 72 kilometers ahead today, but they won’t be easy. This is the stage where the Via de la Plata begins to climb into the Sanabria mountains rugged, wild, and absolutely breathtaking. If you’re just joining the channel, I’m cycling the entire Via de la Plata — from Seville to Santiago and documenting every stage here on My Bike Way. So if you’re into long-distance cycling, solo travel, or just want to see Spain from a different angle, hit that subscribe button and come along for the ride. This stretch starts off gently enough. Quiet asphalt roads, farmland, and endless green. You start to feel the elevation subtly creeping in, but nothing too tough… yet. It’s just you, the bike, and a landscape that changes without warning. I arrived in Puebla de Sanabria After a peaceful ride through quiet countryside, I arrive in Puebla de Sanabria — and wow, what a surprise. This town is one of the most beautiful medieval spots in all of northern Spain. Cobbled streets, a hilltop castle, stone houses — it feels like a movie set. I take a break here, not just to rest, but to soak it in. Walk the streets a little, grab a coffee, and just enjoy this rare moment of Camino luxury. Most days it’s rural silence — today, it’s history and charm. Leaving the village, the terrain begins to speak louder. You start to feel the forest closing in more shade, more curves, more climbing. This is where the ride starts to earn its respect. The road bends, the trees thicken, and suddenly you realize: you’re not in the plains anymore. One of the things I wasn’t expecting on this stage was how spiritual it feels. You come across old chapels, stone crosses, and little signs of devotion left by other pilgrims. Even though I’m on a bike, I still feel that same ancient rhythm — one turn of the pedals at a time. Alright… this part’s no joke. The elevation gain sneaks up on you, especially with bikepacking weight. But that’s what I love about the Camino — it humbles you. No matter how fit you are, the trail will test you in its own way. Every time you reach a ridge or a clearing, the view just opens up like a painting. You see layers of hills, forgotten villages, and valleys that seem untouched. It’s these moments that remind me why I’m doing this. The grind. The solitude. And then — the reward. Just before Lubián, you hit the toughest section the climb toward the Padornelo pass. It’s steep, winding, and depending on the weather… brutal. But there’s something kind of beautiful about battling the mountain. You versus gravity, with nothing but nature around. And then, finally, Lubián. A tiny village, full of stone houses and Galician whispers. I arrive tired, dusty, but completely content. This is the last stop before entering Galicia officially, and you can feel the shift. in the language, the culture, the food… and in the mountains themselves. 71 kilometers. Over 1,200 meters of climbing. From the open plains to the teeth of the mountains. This stage was one of the toughest — and most beautiful — of the entire route. It challenged me physically, yes. But it also gave me space. Silence. And perspective. If you’re enjoying this journey, give it a like — it really helps the channel grow. And if you’ve ever dreamed of biking the Camino — or done it yourself. drop a comment below. I’d love to hear your story. Next stage: into Galicia, and even deeper into the unknown. Subscribe so you don’t miss it. Until then — buen camino, and keep riding forward.