Alto de la Fuente de Cabezuelas

Overview

Alto de la Fuente de Cabezuelas is a category 2 climb in Spain that already begins high, launching from 1095 m and topping out at 1746 m. Across its 11.9 km you gain 651 m of net elevation, with a total ascent of 642 m once the small undulations are counted. The headline average of 5.48% sounds moderate, and for long stretches it is — but a max gradient of 21.65% warns you that this climb hides teeth. It is the kind of ascent that rewards patience early and punishes anyone who spends themselves before the steep sections arrive.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The math tells a story. An average of 5.48% over 11.9 km is a steady, rhythm-friendly slope — the sort of grade you can settle into and turn over for a long time. But averages flatten reality. With a max of 21.65%, nearly four times the mean, the climb clearly stacks its difficulty into short, brutal ramps separated by more forgiving terrain. Expect the gradient to breathe: passages where you sit and spin near the 5.48% average, then abrupt pitches that force you out of the saddle. Because net gain (651 m) sits just above total ascent (642 m), the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with only the faintest respites — there is very little descending to recover on. Starting at altitude near 1095 m and finishing at 1746 m also means thinner air the whole way, quietly taxing your legs on top of the slope itself.

Pacing Notes

The steep ramps make pacing by feel dangerous — spike too hard on a 21.65% wall and you carry that debt for the rest of the 11.9 km. Anchor your effort to power instead. Your FTP is the reference point: aim to hold the long, average-gradient sections comfortably below threshold so you have headroom for the ramps, where power will surge regardless of intent. If you do not know your current number, run it through the FTP estimator before your attempt and set a ceiling you refuse to exceed on the shallow parts. Over 651 m of climbing, discipline in the easy kilometres is what leaves matches for the hard ones.

Gearing

With pitches touching 21.65%, generous gearing is not optional here. A 34×32 lowest ratio is the sensible minimum — it lets you keep a survivable cadence through the worst ramps rather than grinding to a near-stall. If you climb at lower watts, are carrying fatigue, or simply want insurance at altitude, step up to a 34×34. The extra range costs you nothing on the 5.48% average sections and buys real breathing room where the road rears up. On a 11.9 km climb that finishes at 1746 m, spinning a smaller gear beats muscling a big one every time.

Summary

Alto de la Fuente de Cabezuelas is a deceptive category 2: a friendly 5.48% average wrapped around vicious 21.65% ramps, climbing 651 m at altitude to a 1746 m summit. Pace it by power, gear it low, and respect the steep sections.

Length: 11.9 km
Average gradient: 5.48%
Max gradient: 21.65%
Start: 1095 m
Summit: 1746 m
Net gain: 651 m
Total ascent: 642 m
Category: 2