East of Nerja the coast changes. The beaches give way to cliffs, and the road climbs above them through the small village of Maro towards Cerro Gordo, where the Maro–Cerro Gordo cliffs drop straight into the Mediterranean. It is one of the most dramatic stretches of road in southern Spain.
This 32.7 km route rolls the whole way. There are no long climbs, but there are plenty of medium ones: steady drags of 2% to 3% that go on for a few kilometres, and two sharper ramps of around 5%, one in the second half and one right at the end. In total you climb 519 m and top out at 214 m.
That mix makes it a good test of pacing. Push every rise and you will fade before the finish. Ride it evenly and you will be surprised how quickly the kilometres go, with the sea on one side and the mountains of the Sierra Almijara on the other.
In Atlas Indoor you ride the real road in 3D, with your smart trainer adding resistance on every rise. It is a favourite for club evenings: long enough to feel like a proper ride, rolling enough to keep a group together.
How to ride Maro & the Cerro Gordo cliffs indoors
Treat the long drags as tempo and the short ramps as the only places to push. The ramp after 23 km is the hardest part of the ride, and the final kilometre rises again, so hold something back for both. Use the descents to sit up and recover.
New to indoor riding? See the Atlas Indoor guide or how to connect your trainer.
Maro & the Cerro Gordo cliffs: questions
How long does Maro & the Cerro Gordo cliffs take to ride indoors?
About 1 h 20 min at 150 W, 1 h 10 min at 200 W, 1 h 00 min at 250 W. Estimates assume steady power and a 75 kg rider on an 8 kg bike, using the same physics as the ride itself.
How hard is Maro & the Cerro Gordo cliffs?
Atlas rates it moderate: 32.7 km with 519 m of climbing, an average climbing gradient of 2.7% and a steepest kilometre of about 6.2%.
Do I need a smart trainer?
A controllable smart trainer changes resistance with the road's gradient. A power meter or basic Bluetooth trainer also works for a recorded ride. Without either, you can explore the route with demo watts, but demo rides don't count towards results.