Everyone knows Teide. It’s the longest climb in Europe, a 50 km ascent that takes you from sea level to lunar landscapes at 2,300 meters. It’s why the pros come here to train. But for the cyclist seeking pure challenge—the “sense of challenge” that forges legends—Tenerife hides gems that are every bit as tough as Alpine passes or Flemish “bergs.”
If Teide is a test of endurance and management, the island’s other great climbs are tests of character, explosiveness, and technique.
Let’s analyze three iconic Tenerife climbs, different from Teide, and discover why they should be on every climber’s bucket list, comparing them to their most famous “cousins” in European cycling.
1. The Masca Climb: The Angliru of the Canaries
If you are looking for a climb that is as beautiful as it is brutal, you’ve found it. The climb from Buenavista del Norte to the village of Masca (or vice versa) via the Mirador de Cherfe is an engineering masterpiece and a nightmare for the legs.
The Challenge:
It’s not a long climb. The key segment from the north is about 4.5 kilometers, but with an elevation gain of almost 500 meters. The average gradient is over 10%, but this figure is misleading. The road is narrow, twists back on itself with tight hairpins, and features constant “walls” between 13% and 17%, with sections touching 20%. It’s a short, explosive effort with no respite.
The European Comparison:
While the breathtaking landscape is reminiscent of Sa Calobra in Mallorca, its ferocity brings it closer to the Mortirolo (from Mazzo) or the Alto de l’Angliru in Asturias. Like these climbs, Masca is unforgiving. It’s not about rhythm; it’s about pure survival. Conquering it doesn’t just reward you with a stunning view, but with the right to say, “I did it.”
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2. Anaga (El Bailadero): The Ardennes in the Atlantic
If Masca is a punch to the gut, the roads of the Anaga Rural Park are an endless series of quick jabs. Located on the northeastern tip of the island, Anaga is the opposite of the south: it’s humid, lush green, a prehistoric laurisilva forest often shrouded in mist (“bruma”).
The Challenge:
You won’t find a single 20 km climb here. You’ll find a labyrinth of winding roads, a continuous “up-and-down” that constantly tests your ability to change pace. The main climb, like the one from San Andrés to El Bailadero, is long (about 10 km) and steady, but it’s just the beginning. The real test of Anaga is getting lost in its rollers, with short, sharp ramps, technical descents, and perfect asphalt that winds through the mountains overlooking the ocean.
The European Comparison:
This is not an Alpine ascent. This is a route for a Classic: reminiscent of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the Belgian Ardennes or a ride in the Vosges. It’s terrain for “finisseurs” and punchers, where effort is managed not over two hours, but over two minutes.
3. The Vilaflor Climb: The Gateway to the Alps
While Masca is brutal and Anaga is nervous, the climb to Vilaflor is the definition of a “great Alpine climb.” Vilaflor is one of the highest municipalities in Spain and is the main gateway to Teide National Park from the south.
The Challenge:
Starting from Arona or San Miguel, this is an ascent of pure endurance. We’re talking about 14-16 kilometers of steady climbing, with an average gradient of 5-7%. It doesn’t have Masca’s killer slopes, but it’s long and never lets up. It’s the kind of climb where you find your rhythm and just hold on for an hour. The challenge here is consistency and altitude, reaching about 1,400 meters.
The European Comparison:
This climb is the perfect equivalent of a great Alpine or Pyrenean pass. It’s reminiscent of the ascent to the Col de la Madeleine or the Tourmalet (Barèges side): a long, majestic climb that takes you from wooded valleys (here, the Canary pines) up to the high mountains. It’s the perfect climb to build your base, the “first half” of the Teide climb, but it’s an achievement that’s worth the day’s ride on its own.
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The Complete Challenge is the Variety
Teide is the King, but these are the climbs that make Tenerife the Queen of training camps. In just a few days, you can test your explosiveness on 20% walls (Masca), your agility on Classics-style routes (Anaga), and your endurance on Grand Tour climbs (Vilaflor).
Want to try and collect them all? Our guides know every secret of these ascents and can help you plan your personal challenge.