Alto de Ragudo

Overview

Alto de Ragudo is a category-2 climb that packs a genuine punch into a compact 7.1 km. From a start elevation of 532 m it hauls you up to a 961 m summit, a net gain of 429 m across those seven-odd kilometres. At an average gradient of 6.06% it sits firmly in the "sustained but honest" bracket — steep enough that you feel it the whole way, not so brutal that it forces you off the bike. The 10.46% max gradient is the sting in the tail: expect a section where the road tips well past its average and asks a hard question of your legs.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The maths of this climb are worth reading closely. With 429 m of net elevation gain but 410 m of total ascent recorded, the road is almost relentlessly upward — there is very little false-flat or descending relief hiding in the profile to give you a breather. That consistency is the defining feature of Ragudo: a climb whose 6.06% average is not an average of easy and hard, but a fairly true reflection of what you pedal metre after metre. The 10.46% max tells you the road does steepen in places, so the smart read is to treat the middle and steeper pitches as the moments to protect, rather than chasing time on the shallower approaches.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steady, pacing is everything. The single biggest mistake is going out too hard on the lower slopes and paying for it when the gradient nudges toward 10.46%. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a 7.1 km climb at 6.06%, most riders will be climbing for long enough that riding just under or right at threshold is sustainable, but not much above. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan your ride. Aim to arrive at the steepest ramp with something in reserve, then let the effort creep up in the final stretch toward the 961 m summit.

Gearing

For a category-2 climb averaging 6.06% with pitches at 10.46%, you want a bailout gear that lets you spin rather than grind. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sweet spot here. A 34×32 setup will cover most fit riders comfortably over the 7.1 km, keeping cadence honest on the average slopes. If you carry any fatigue, ride at a lighter weight-to-power, or simply prefer to twiddle, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket buys real breathing room on the 10.46% max ramp and keeps your knees happy over the 429 m of climbing.

Summary

Alto de Ragudo rewards discipline: a steady, honest category-2 climb where consistent pacing and sensible gearing matter more than raw punch. Read the numbers, respect the steepest ramp, and you will crest it strong.

Length: 7.1 km
Average gradient: 6.06%
Max gradient: 10.46%
Start: 532 m
Summit: 961 m
Net gain: 429 m
Total ascent: 410 m
Category: 2