Cyclope Palencia Gravel - Etapa 5 - Becerril de Campos / Baltanás

This stage takes us from the Tierra de Campos to the Cerrato Palentino, connecting two radically different landscapes. From Becerril de Campos, we ride through secondary and lonely roads, ideal for enjoying without haste, crossing streams where the river crab continues to take center stage.

We arrive at Mazariegos, where an observation tower provides us with infinite views before linking up with the Vía Verde del Tren Burra, a smooth section that flows into the Canal de Castilla, just on the outskirts of Palencia, watched over from a distance by its Cristo del Otero.

A bike lane takes us into the Monte de Palencia, the city's green lung, perfect for getting carried away by trails among the pines before descending toward Dueñas, with its peculiar image of terraced wineries and medieval towers.

We will continue our journey crossing the highway and the bridge over the Pisuerga River, once again our companion, to follow incredible tracks toward this new comarca.

Now in the cerrato, the tracks lead us to Tariego. Very near, if we want to take a detour, a Visigothic jewel awaits us: the church of San Juan de Baños, with 'miraculous' waters according to King Recesvinto.

The landscape transforms into valleys and rolling hills, which, without exceeding 900 meters in altitude, demand legs and technique. We finish in Baltanás, the capital of the Cerrato, with its magical neighborhood of wineries, reminiscent of a Tolkien setting and, they say, inspired Gaudí for the chimneys of the Sagrada Familia. Reality or legend, we have arrived at a comarca that is pedaled with excitement.