Alto de Tetuan

Overview

Alto de Tetuan is a short, serious climb that trades length for relentless steepness. Over just 4.3 km it averages 8.45%, a figure that leaves almost no genuine recovery from bottom to top. You start at 1084 m and finish at 1449 m, a net gain of 365 m earned across a road that rarely dips below the point of discomfort. It carries a category 2 label — not the fearsome hors catégorie tier, but firmly a climb you respect rather than dismiss. The combination of a punchy average and a short distance means the whole thing plays out fast and hard, more sustained surge than long grind.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is the gap between the 8.45% average and the 11.63% maximum. That spread of just over three points tells you this is not a climb of dramatic swings — there is no flat false-summit to soft-pedal, no long shallow drag to spin out. Instead the road holds close to its steep mean, with the hardest ramps rising toward 11.63% before easing back toward the average rather than to anything resembling rest. Expect the gradient to sit in the high single digits for long stretches, punctuated by pitches that tip into the low teens. Because the elevation gain is concentrated — 365 m of net rise over 4.3 km — the steepness feels constant, and every soft section is short-lived.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about restraint at the base and commitment through the middle. The steady 8.45% average means the smart approach is to settle just below your threshold early, then let the steeper ramps toward 11.63% push you up to and briefly over it, rather than blowing apart on the first pitch. Anchoring the effort to your FTP keeps you honest: aim to hold a wattage you can sustain for the roughly ten-to-fifteen-minute duration this climb demands of most riders. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you go and set a target you can defend all the way to 1449 m. The mistake here is treating a short climb as a sprint — the average punishes anyone who overcooks the opening.

Gearing

Given the sustained 8.45% average and ramps toward 11.63%, err toward more range than you think you need. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is the sensible baseline for most fit riders, giving you a cadence you can actually turn on the steeper pitches. If you climb closer to threshold-limited than power-rich, or you are carrying fatigue, step up to a 34×34 for extra margin on the 11.63% sections — the small weight penalty is worth the ability to keep spinning rather than grinding to a standstill. On a climb this steep, a spare gear is never wasted.

Summary

Alto de Tetuan is a compact, honest test: 4.3 km that asks for a strong, well-judged effort rather than raw endurance. Pace it below threshold at the base, use your range on the ramps, and let the short distance work in your favour.

Length: 4.3 km
Average gradient: 8.45%
Max gradient: 11.63%
Start: 1084 m
Summit: 1449 m
Net gain: 365 m
Total ascent: 327 m
Category: 2