Nor3xtrem

On May 7, 2023, a new edition of the cyclo-sporting event of Extremadura Nor3xtrem. Organized by Bicicletas Pelín Cáceres y el Club Ciclista Fucky Cáceres, since 2014 they have been trying to make this event a reference on the national calendar of cyclo sporting events.

The name Nor3xtrem has its origins in its geographical location and its purpose to reach the 3 valleys of northern Extremadura: Valle Ambroz, Jerte and La Vera. Thanks to this route, some of the iconic climbs of Extremadura are conquered, such as Puerto La Garganta (2nd), Puerto de Cabezabellosa (2nd), El Rebanillo (2nd), El Piornal (1st), up to the most special: Port de Honduras.

The 3 valleys that give the event its name are located behind the Meseta and the southern foothills of the Sierras de Candelario and Béjar. In this environment the participants find a landscape surrounded by chestnut, oak or cherry trees that flood the slopes of the valleys.

Routes

Ultrafondo

From the town of Hervás (Cáceres), the 172 km ultrafondo course with a positive slope of 3,810 m. A well paved route, the first mountain pass is La Garganta. After this first section, you will cross the Tras Sierra mountains, through Gargantilla, Segura del Toro and Casas del Monte.

The second effort of the route arrives with the ascent to Cabezabellosa, another second-rate climb that ends at the Pitolero pass. After this section it is time to enter the Jerte Valley, crossing El Torno.

In El Torno, a bifuration has been established between those registered in the Fondo and the Ultrafondo, with a passing time of 3:15 hours. Those enrolled in the Ultrafondo who do not reach the cutoff must continue their route along the Fondo route to the Port de Honduras.

Once past the fork, you will go back up to Alto de El Rebanillo (2nd), from where the route to La Vera will pass through a well-known legbreaker until it reaches Pasarón de la Vera. The fourth mountain pass that we find is Piornal on the Pasarón slope. At this point you will find the second aid station.

Re-energized, it's time to enjoy a 10 km section to the Caozo waterfall along a well-paved road, allowing you to contemplate the Jerte Valley in its splendor. Once past Cabezuela del Valle, the section to Port de Honduras starts with 22 km at 4.3%, before starting the incredible climb to this special category pass, at an altitude of over 1400 m.

Once you have passed Puerto de Honduras, it is time to start the descent to the starting point of Hervás.

While climbs generally do not have significant grade changes, maximum slopes of around 12-13% can be expected along the way, and with average slopes of around 5% on most climbs.

Fondo

The route of this modality is the same as the ultrafondo, except that after the descent towards El Torno you do not go through the Valle de la Vera but in the direction of Puerto de Honduras to begin the impressive ascent. In all, this route has a distance of 119 km and a positive slope of 2450 meters.