You leave Niñóns behind and the morning starts gently. Then come the first hills. And then another. And another.
The highest point stays modest, but don’t let that fool you. The hard part is the constant up and down: almost 700 metres of climbing, spread over short, punishing stretches. You’ll feel the descents in your knees just as much as the climbs in your calves. You’ll be on the move for well over 8 hours, so find your own rhythm and don’t set off too fast.
You reach Ponteceso tired but satisfied. Spread your breaks throughout the day and eat on time, because those long hours take more energy than the map would suggest.