You’ll sink down in Cistierna with the pleasant feeling that you’ve really earned it. And you have. You’ve crossed a mountain ridge at over 1300 metres, where the wind can stay fresh even on a sunny day.
The day has two faces. First you climb long and steadily, then your knees take the strain all the way down. It isn’t a monster stage, but with almost seven hours of walking, you will feel it. In Cistierna the road divides: this is also where the Camino Vadiniense begins. If you want to go to Villafranca, you stay on the Olvidado. Take a moment at the top, and your first beer down below will taste all the better.