Alto de la Butrera

Overview

Alto de la Butrera is a category 3 climb that covers 6.5 km and lifts you from a start elevation of 573 m to a summit at 917 m. That works out to a net elevation gain of 344 m over the ascent, with the recorded total ascent sitting at 333 m once the small undulations are smoothed out. The average gradient is a steady 5.26%, which places it firmly in the tempo-effort bracket rather than the leg-breaking category. The maximum gradient touches 10.44%, so while the climb never becomes a wall, it does have a section that demands respect and a shift of gears.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story of Butrera is written in the gap between its 5.26% average and its 10.44% maximum. A climb that averaged its steepest pitch would be brutal; instead, this one hovers around the moderate mark for most of its 6.5 km, banking easier metres so it can afford a sharper ramp without blowing the overall figure out. Expect the profile to feel like a rolling middle-distance effort punctuated by one clear kick where the road nearly doubles the average. With only 333 m of total ascent spread across 6.5 km, the climb rewards a rider who can hold a rhythm and then absorb the single stinger without panicking. Read the gradient as two moods: long stretches near 5% where you settle, and a short passage near 10.44% where you dig in and then recover before the 917 m summit.

Pacing Notes

Because the average sits at 5.26%, this is a climb you can ride close to threshold rather than deep into the red. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below or around it on the steady sections, holding a reserve for the 10.44% pitch. If you do not know your current number, run it through the FTP estimator before your ride so your pacing targets are grounded in real watts. Over 6.5 km, going too hard early will cost you far more than the few seconds you save. Meter the effort so that the sharp ramp is the only place your heart rate spikes, then let the gradient ease you back toward the summit at 917 m.

Gearing

For a 6.5 km climb at 5.26% average with a 10.44% maximum, a compact setup keeps your cadence comfortable. A 34×32 lowest gear is enough for most trained riders to spin over the steepest pitch without grinding. If you prefer to sit and turn the pedals rather than stand, or you are carrying fatigue from earlier climbing, drop to a 34×34 for extra insurance on the 10.44% section. Either choice lets you protect your legs across the full 344 m of net gain.

Summary

Alto de la Butrera is an honest, rhythm-friendly category 3 climb: 6.5 km of mostly moderate gradient with a single meaningful ramp near the top. Pace it to your threshold, gear it compact, and the 917 m summit comes without drama.

Length: 6.5 km
Average gradient: 5.26%
Max gradient: 10.44%
Start: 573 m
Summit: 917 m
Net gain: 344 m
Total ascent: 333 m
Category: 3