From Coripe to Tunnel Shadow Cycling Club

There are rides that feel like you’ve accidentally joined a secret society. Via Verde de la Sierra is definitely this kind. A railway that never saw a train, 36 kilometers of premium gravel, and 30 tunnels that slowly recruit you into the Tunnel Shadow Cycling Club — whether you meant to join or not.

Tap the pic, let Strava do the guiding. Pic. https://www.fundacionviaverdedelasierra.es/

Before the tunnels and the gravel take over, the ride begins on an easy stretch of asphalt that climbs gently from Coripe toward La Muela. It’s the kind of warm-up every route should offer: steady, smooth, and forgiving, giving your legs just enough work to wake up without asking for anything more. By the time you reach the start of the old railway line, you’ve already found your rhythm — ready for the long, relaxed flow that defines the rest of the ride.

From La Muela, the route finishes with a final climb up to Olvera — a steady, manageable ascent that feels more like a closing chapter than a challenge. The gradient stays friendly, the road remains smooth, and the town slowly comes into view as you work your way up. It’s a gentle wrap-up to the ride: one last push, just enough to remind you you’re still on a bike, before rolling into one of the prettiest white towns in the area.

Here’s the headline of the route: 30 tunnels. It sounds intense, but in reality, it’s more fun than anything else. Most are straight and easy to navigate. A few are longer, and yes, lights make life better — but none feel dangerous or technical. They’re just cool pockets of darkness that break the rhythm in a surprisingly pleasant way. Inside, the temperature drops a few degrees, the air feels a bit damp, and the gravel echoes in a way that’s oddly calming. You enter, you roll, you exit into sunlight. Repeat. It becomes a rhythm — a small ritual every few minutes.

Once you’re fully on the old railway, the route settles into an easy, steady rhythm. The gravel is smooth and consistent, the kind you stop noticing because it simply works. The gentle incline builds slowly in the background, never demanding much, letting you ride, look around, or take photos without breaking the flow. The landscape shifts quietly — a valley here, a bridge there — all of it unfolding at a calm, predictable pace.

It’s a route that never tries to impress you, and maybe that’s why it does. Calm, steady, and full of little moments, it leaves you with the feeling that you could ride it again tomorrow — and enjoy it just as much. A simple ride, done right. Welcome to the Tunnel Shadow Cycling Club

From Coripe to Tunnel Shadow Cycling Club

Distance: 56 km

Elev Gain: 850 m

Time: 2.30 h

Type: Semi gravel

Strava link: https://www.strava.com/routes/3405456411718957278

Coripe · La Muela · Olvera.gpx

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