Alto de la Mina - El Vergel

Overview

Alto de la Mina - El Vergel is a long, patient climb: 26.6 km of continuous ascending at an average gradient of 5.44%. It begins at 1256 m and tops out at 2700 m, a net gain of 1444 m earned steadily rather than violently. The category 1 rating (one step below hors catégorie, the hardest tier) is driven far more by its length and the thin air at altitude than by any single brutal ramp. This is a climb of accumulation — the kind where the damage is done to your legs slowly, over the better part of an hour or more.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 5.44% average spread across 26.6 km, this is a climb whose character is defined by consistency. The total ascent of 1609 m against a net gain of 1444 m tells you the road is not perfectly monotonic — there are dips, false flats, and recoveries worth roughly 165 m of extra up-and-down along the way. That means the true climbing pitches sit a touch steeper than the headline 5.44% suggests, punctuated by short stretches where the grade eases and you can breathe. Expect to spend long periods in a steady rhythm, broken by the occasional kick that nudges you out of the saddle before the road settles again.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a wattage you can genuinely sustain for the full 26.6 km — going too hard in the opening kilometres is the classic error here, and there is a lot of mountain left to punish it. Because the summit sits at 2700 m, altitude will quietly shave power from your legs the higher you go, so bias your pacing conservative and keep something in reserve for the upper slopes. If you do not already know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your target output. Fuel early and often; at over an hour of climbing, running the tank dry is a real risk.

Gearing

For a 26.6 km climb averaging 5.44% at altitude, gear for the long haul, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will cover most riders on the steadier pitches, but on a climb this sustained — especially as fatigue and thin air stack up near 2700 m — a 34×34 gives you the extra spin to keep your cadence high and your legs fresh. If your frame and derailleur allow even more range, take it: you will never regret an easier gear on a climb that lasts this long.

Summary

Alto de la Mina - El Vergel rewards patience, fuelling and honest pacing over raw punch. Settle into a rhythm, respect the altitude, and let the 26.6 km come to you.

Length: 26.6 km
Average gradient: 5.44%
Max gradient: n/a
Start: 1256 m
Summit: 2700 m
Net gain: 1444 m
Total ascent: 1609 m
Category: 1