Alto de los Rebollares

Overview

Alto de los Rebollares is a category-3 climb that covers 8.9 km and lifts you from a start elevation of 241 m to a summit at 622 m. That is a net elevation gain of 381 m, achieved at an average gradient of 4.26%. On paper this reads as a moderate, rhythm-friendly ascent — long enough to matter, gentle enough on average that it rarely forces you out of the saddle. But the 4.26% figure hides a wider spread than the number suggests, and a maximum gradient of 13.6% waits somewhere along the way to remind you that averages lie.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Rebollares is the gap between its average and its maximum. A 4.26% mean gradient over 8.9 km is the kind of slope you can hold a conversation on, yet the 13.6% peak is more than three times that. When the mean is mild but the max is steep, the climb is almost always uneven — long shallow stretches that let you recover, punctuated by short ramps that spike the effort. The net gain of 381 m against a total ascent of 356 m tells you the road does not climb relentlessly upward; there is enough undulation that the trace loses a little height along the way before clawing it back. Expect to shift often, reading the road ahead rather than settling into one fixed cadence.

Pacing Notes

Ride to the average, not the maximum. At 4.26% you should be sitting comfortably below threshold for most of the 8.9 km, banking energy for the 13.6% ramp rather than burning matches on the easy grades. Aim to hold a steady power just under your FTP, then allow a controlled surge over the steep pitch and settle straight back down — do not let the effort spill over and cook your legs for the rest of the climb. If you are unsure of your ceiling, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so your target wattage is grounded in real data rather than feel. On a climb this uneven, discipline on the shallow sections is what makes the steep one survivable.

Gearing

For a category-3 climb with a 13.6% maximum, give yourself a rescue gear. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 is enough for most riders to spin the steep ramp without grinding, keeping cadence up when the road kicks. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry heavier loads, or simply want more margin on that 13.6% pitch, a 34×34 buys you a little extra breathing room and turns the hardest section from a struggle into a manageable spin. Either setup lets you save your legs on the 4.26% stretches and meet the steep bit with something left.

Summary

Alto de los Rebollares is a deceptively varied category-3 climb: 8.9 km at a friendly 4.26% average, but with a 13.6% sting that rewards smart pacing and sensible gearing. Ride the shallows patiently, respect the ramp, and the 381 m of climbing from 241 m to 622 m comes together cleanly.

Length — 8.9 km
Average gradient — 4.26%
Max gradient — 13.6%
Start — 241 m
Summit — 622 m
Net gain — 381 m
Total ascent — 356 m
Category — 3