Alto de San Benito

Overview

Alto de San Benito is a category-4 climb that rewards rhythm over drama. Over 7 km it lifts you from 308 m at the base to 569 m at the summit, a net gain of 261 m at an average gradient of 3.75%. That average sits firmly in the tempo band — steep enough to load the legs, shallow enough to stay seated and turn a big gear. With a total ascent of 244 m recorded across the profile, the road generally climbs but is not relentlessly one-directional, which tells you there are brief lulls where you can recover before the next rise. As category-4 ascents go, it is an honest, approachable effort: a good first big climb of a ride, or a launchpad for something harder later.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is 3.75%, but averages hide the texture. The maximum pitch touches 7.02% — nearly double the mean — so the climb is not uniform. Expect stretches that drift below the average, gentle enough to feel like false flat, punctuated by ramps that bite toward that 7.02% ceiling. The gap between the 261 m net gain and the 244 m total ascent is small, confirming there is little descending built into the route; almost everything you climb, you keep. Read the road ahead: hold something in reserve through the shallow sections so the steeper kicks toward 7% don't force you out of the saddle before you're ready.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this length and gradient, the trap is starting too hard on the early ramps and paying for it across the full 7 km. Anchor your effort to your FTP. For a category-4 climb, riding at or just below threshold is sustainable for most; a well-fuelled rider can push a touch over on the 7.02% pitches and settle back on the flatter grades. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first, then set a target power you can hold from 308 m all the way to the 569 m summit. Aim for even effort, not even speed — let the gradient dictate your pace while your power stays steady.

Gearing

The 3.75% average is comfortably a big-ring proposition for strong riders, but the 7.02% maximum is where gearing earns its keep. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to spin the steep pitches without grinding. If you carry endurance weight, ride tired, or simply prefer to keep cadence high, step up to a 34×34 for extra insurance on the ramps. On a category-4 climb neither will feel excessive, and having the easier gear in reserve means you can protect your legs early and still climb smoothly to the top.

Summary

Alto de San Benito is a manageable, rhythm-friendly climb: 7 km, 261 m of net gain, and a 3.75% average that only spikes to 7.02% at its steepest. Pace it to your threshold, gear it sensibly, and it makes a satisfying category-4 effort for riders of most abilities.

Length: 7 km
Average gradient: 3.75%
Max gradient: 7.02%
Start: 308 m
Summit: 569 m
Net gain: 261 m
Total ascent: 244 m
Category: 4