Alto de los Escajos

Overview

Alto de los Escajos is a short climb that refuses to be underestimated. At 5.9 km with an average gradient of 10.1%, it packs the punishment of a much longer ascent into a compact envelope. You start at 56 m and finish at 653 m, a summit elevation that leaves you 597 m higher than where you began, with 585 m of total ascent logged along the way. That double-digit average is the headline number, but the real story is a max gradient of 22.66% that turns one section into a genuine wall. Rated Category 1, it sits just one rung below hors catégorie on the difficulty ladder, and every metre of it earns that classification.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by intensity rather than length. With a 10.1% average sustained across the full 5.9 km, there is almost nowhere to hide. Because the net gain of 597 m sits fractionally above the 585 m of total ascent, the road climbs relentlessly with negligible respite — you are not clawing back lost ground on descents, you are simply going up. The 22.66% maximum is more than double the average, which tells you the climb is not evenly graded: expect ramps that surge well past the mean and force sudden, sharp efforts. Treat the whole ascent as one continuous test of resolve, punctuated by pitches steep enough to bring you nearly to a standstill.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about damage control. The 5.9 km distance is deceptively brief, tempting you to attack from the base — resist it. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a power ceiling you can sustain to the top, because at 10.1% average there is no coasting to recover a blown effort. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride. Bank a little in reserve for the 22.66% pitch, which will spike your output far above threshold no matter how disciplined you are. The goal is to crest the 653 m summit still turning the pedals, not to survive the steepest ramp only to blow apart on the slopes above it.

Gearing

Gear for the steepest metre, not the average. A 10.1% mean with a 22.66% maximum demands the lowest ratios most riders can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible floor here, but on a climb with pitches above 22%, a 34×34 gives you the extra margin to keep a survivable cadence when the road stands up. If your frame and derailleur allow it, err toward the easier end — spinning the 34×34 up the wall beats grinding the 34×32 to a crawl. There is no penalty for having a gear you do not need on Escajos; there is a steep one for running out.

Summary

Alto de los Escajos is a Category 1 climb that trades length for sheer intensity: 5.9 km, 10.1% average, and a 22.66% maximum that defines the effort. Gear low, pace to threshold, and respect the wall.

Length: 5.9 km
Average gradient: 10.1%
Max gradient: 22.66%
Start: 56 m
Summit: 653 m
Net gain: 597 m
Total ascent: 585 m
Category: 1