Alto del Bardal

Overview

Alto del Bardal is a category 1 climb that asks a real question of your legs. Over 12.4 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 497 m to a summit of 1258 m, a net gain of 761 m at an average gradient of 6.14%. That average sits in the sweet spot where a climb is long enough to matter but never so steep that you can simply muscle through it — sustained effort, not brute force, is what carries you over the top.

The category 1 label is well earned. This is a serious mountain climb, one rung below the hardest hors catégorie ascents, and the combination of length and a max pitch of 11.68% means there is nowhere to genuinely recover once the gradient bites.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 6.14% average across 12.4 km, Alto del Bardal is fundamentally a rhythm climb, but the numbers hide some texture. The gap between the 6.14% average and the 11.68% maximum tells you the road is not uniform — expect the gradient to sag below average in places and rear up well into double digits elsewhere.

There is also a small tell in the two ascent figures. The net elevation gain is 761 m, but the total ascent is 743 m — a reminder that the profile is not a clean, monotonic ramp. The road undulates, giving back a little height in short false descents before clawing it back on the next pitch. Those brief eases are where you recover; the 11.68% ramps are where the climb is decided.

Pacing Notes

The winning strategy here is discipline. On a climb this long, going into the red early on one of the 11.68% ramps will cost you far more time than you gain. Anchor your effort to your FTP and treat the 6.14% average sections as your baseline power, spending matches only when the road tilts up hard.

If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride. Knowing your FTP lets you set a target wattage you can hold for the full 12.4 km rather than blowing up two-thirds of the way to the 1258 m summit. Aim to crest the top still able to press on, not just survive.

Gearing

For a 12.4 km climb averaging 6.14% with pitches to 11.68%, gear for the steep parts, not the average. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the gradual sections comfortably, but on the 11.68% ramps at the tail of a 761 m ascent, that ratio can force you into a grinding, low-cadence slog.

If you have any doubt about your climbing legs or want to protect your knees over the full 12.4 km, fit a 34×34. The extra sprocket keeps your cadence spinning on the hardest ramps and preserves energy for the summit.

Summary

Alto del Bardal rewards patience: pace it evenly, gear for the steep ramps, and the 1258 m summit comes to those who stay controlled.

Length: 12.4 km
Average gradient: 6.14%
Max gradient: 11.68%
Start: 497 m
Summit: 1258 m
Net gain: 761 m
Total ascent: 743 m
Category: 1