It hits 3000m at the top, making it Europe's highest road. First on the list is the broad A-395, the main road up the mountain.

In fact, we're barely scratching the surface of the mountains outside Granada on this trip - but we are doing two roads in detail. There's a heap of brilliant riding between Colmenar and Granada, but we're skipping it to spend as much time in the Sierra Nevada as possible. It's a good ride, but too short: at Loja we jump on the A92 motorway. The road climbs up and over a low pass, the Puerto de los Alazores, before joining the bigger but bumpier A-341 to Loja. It's a great road - twisty with massive views out across the countryside, though this early in the morning much of the land is still in deep shadow the contrast when the low sun hits blindingly into my eyes is almost painful. Except within two corners of turning onto the A-4152, I recognise it from the launch of the first Triumph Tiger Explorer in 2013.

For what seem like good reasons at the time, we set off early – in theory to research a recommended road I haven't ridden.

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