Alto de Hazallanas

Overview

Alto de Hazallanas is a Category 1 climb in Spain (ES), running 12.1 km from a start elevation of 776 m to a summit at 1708 m. Across that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 932 m at an average gradient of 7.69%. Those numbers alone mark it as a serious, sustained effort rather than a short punch.

The average, though, understates the work. Total ascent on the climb is 1340 m against a net gain of only 932 m, meaning roughly 408 m of extra climbing is buried in dips and recoveries where the road gives back height you then have to reclaim. That undulation matters: you cannot simply hold one steady wattage against a smooth 7.69% grade. Every recovery section is followed by a re-acceleration, and those repeated re-starts cost more than the average suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.69% average hides both the flatter breathers and the ugly ramps. With a maximum gradient of 24.85%, the hardest pitches are far steeper than anything the mean implies, and they arrive as short, sharp walls rather than long steady drags. Expect the effort to swing between the two extremes rather than settle.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases well below average, tempting you to over-spend
• Repeated short climbs that reclaim the 408 m of extra ascent hidden in the undulation
• The steepest ramp near 24.85%, where cadence collapses and gearing decides whether you keep spinning or grind to a stop

Pacing Notes

Because of the undulation, chase even effort, not even speed. Trying to hold a constant pace forces spikes on the ramps and coasting on the flatter parts, burning matches you will want later. Instead, anchor your climb to your sustainable power output and let speed rise and fall with the grade. Ease slightly on the recovery sections and accept the slow crawl up the steep pitches rather than surging to defend a number on your computer. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first so you have a real target to hold across all 12.1 km.

Gearing

The 24.85% maximum dictates your setup. On a wall that steep, standard gearing will pull your cadence into the low double digits and blow your legs apart. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you a fighting chance of spinning rather than grinding through the steepest ramp. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up is not recoverable.

Summary

• Length: 12.1 km
• Average gradient: 7.69%
• Maximum gradient: 24.85%
• Net elevation gain: 932 m
• Total ascent: 1340 m
• Category: 1

Alto de Hazallanas rewards riders who respect the gap between its average and its reality. Pace to your power, gear for the 24.85% walls, and let the 408 m of hidden ascent shape a controlled, even effort to the 1708 m summit.