Alto de Cabeza Redonda

Overview

Alto de Cabeza Redonda is a long, patient Category 1 climb that rewards riders who can hold a rhythm for the better part of an hour. From its base at 427 m to the summit at 1575 m, it covers 23.7 km and delivers 1148 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 4.84%. That average tells you most of what you need to know: this is not a wall, but a sustained effort where the road tilts up and simply refuses to relent. With 1129 m of total ascent packed into the ride, almost every metre you climb is a metre you keep.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency. A 4.84% average across 23.7 km means the climb never truly flattens out, but it also never spikes into the red for long — the maximum gradient touches 8.27%, which is steep enough to sting but well short of the double-digit ramps that define harder ascents. Expect the road to breathe: pitches that sit above the average, then brief eases that let your legs recover without ever offering a genuine descent. Because net gain (1148 m) sits so close to total ascent (1129 m), there is virtually no false flat or downhill respite — you are climbing almost the entire time. Plan your effort around the 8.27% pinches, and treat everything else as a place to settle in.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is the whole game. Ride the first third comfortably below threshold and you will have something left when the 8.27% sections arrive. A good target for the sustained middle is to sit just under your FTP, letting the steeper pitches nudge you toward it rather than pushing over it early. If you do not know your threshold power, spend a few minutes with the FTP estimator before you plan the ascent — knowing that number turns a 23.7 km climb from a guessing game into a manageable, repeatable effort. The temptation on a 4.84% grade is to overpower the shallow sections; resist it, and bank that energy for the top.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 4.84% with pitches up to 8.27%, compact gearing is your friend. A 34-tooth inner ring paired with a 32-tooth cassette sprocket — a classic 34×32 — gives most riders enough range to spin comfortably through the steepest sections without grinding. If you carry extra weight, ride at altitude, or simply prefer to keep your cadence high across 23.7 km, step up to 34×34 for a little more insurance on the harder pitches. Both setups keep you seated and turning smoothly, which is exactly what a long, steady climb like this demands.

Summary

Alto de Cabeza Redonda is a rhythm climb: long, steady, and honest. Hold your pace, gear low, and let the consistent gradient do the work over 23.7 km.

Length: 23.7 km
Average gradient: 4.84%
Max gradient: 8.27%
Start: 427 m
Summit: 1575 m
Net gain: 1148 m
Total ascent: 1129 m
Category: 1