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La Purito Andorra

13 September 2026Andorra la Vella, Andorra

Distance

145km

Elevation

4800m

La Purito Andorra is named after Joaquim "Purito" Rodríguez, one of the finest climbers in professional cycling history, and the route lives up to his réputation. The 145 km course through the Principality of Andorra packs an extraordinary 4,800 m of climbing into a relatively short distance, making it one of the most climbing-intensive sportives in Europe. The Pyrenean passes of Andorra are relentless: steep gradients, high altitude and thin air combine to create a uniquely demanding challenge. Unlike longer events where you can settle into a rhythm on valley roads, La Purito is essentially all climbing and descending with minimal flat sections. You need exceptional power-to-weight ratio, climbing endurance, and the ability to recover on descents. Training should heavily prioritize climbing-specific work. Include threshold intervals on 15-30 minute climbs, over-under sessions to build tolerance for intensity changes, and long rides in hilly terrain with 3,000+ m of elevation. Practice descending at speed to maximize recovery between climbs. If possible, include altitude training camps to prepare for the 2,000+ m passes.

Official site
Cyclists climbing steep Pyrenean switchbacks during La Purito Andorra cycling event

How NUA prepares you for La Purito Andorra

Builds your aerobic base

Trains race-specific efforts

Manages load & recovery

Fine-tunes the final weeks

Frequently asked questions about training for La Purito Andorra

How long do I need to prepare for La Purito Andorra?+
NUA builds your plan backwards from race day. For most gran fondos and similar distances, 12-16 weeks is the sweet spot — enough to build aerobic base, then sharpen race-specific efforts. With less than 8 weeks, NUA adapts the plan to focus on finishing strong rather than chasing peak performance.
What does NUA's training plan for La Purito Andorra look like?+
A weekly mix of Z2 endurance, race-specific intervals (climbs, sustained efforts, attacks), and structured recovery. Each week adapts based on your readiness, completed sessions, and how the previous week went. The closer to race day, the more specific the work — tapering kicks in automatically in the final two weeks.
Can NUA help if it's my first time at this distance?+
Yes. During onboarding NUA asks about your weekly volume, experience, and goal (finish, finish strong, target time). First-timers get a base-building approach focused on completing the distance comfortably. Experienced riders get more aggressive interval work and race-day pacing strategy.
Does NUA's plan for La Purito Andorra include indoor training?+
Yes. NUA prescribes both outdoor and indoor sessions based on your availability and weather. Indoor workouts export as ZWO files compatible with Zwift, Rouvy, TrainerRoad, and intervals.icu, and the full plan syncs to Garmin and Wahoo head units.
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