Alto del Cabra

Overview

Alto del Cabra is a genuine hors catégorie monster: 23.9 km of continuous climbing that lifts you from 1771 m at the base to 3433 m at the summit. That is a net gain of 1662 m, with 1642 m of it coming as pure ascent along the way. At an average gradient of 6.95%, this is not a climb you survive with fitness alone — the sheer length, combined with the thin air of a 3433 m ceiling, turns it into an exercise in patience and metering. Twenty-plus kilometres at nearly 7% is a long time in the saddle, and the altitude only compounds every watt you spend.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number — 6.95% over 23.9 km — hides the real character of the climb. With a max gradient of 19.48%, the road clearly throws steep pitches at you that are nearly three times the average. Because the mean stays a shade under 7%, those brutal ramps toward 19.48% must be offset by gentler, recovery-friendly stretches elsewhere. Expect the climb to breathe: sections where you can settle into rhythm, punctuated by sharp kicks that force you out of the saddle or deep into your lowest gears. Over 23.9 km you gain 1642 m of ascent, so the overall trend is relentlessly upward with very little true respite. Treat the shallow parts as chances to eat, drink, and lower your heart rate before the next wall.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline is everything. Anchor your effort to a percentage of your FTP and hold it — going too deep in the first 5 km will cost you dearly across the remaining distance, especially as the altitude climbs past 3000 m and oxygen thins. If you do not know your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. A sensible plan is to ride the sustained sections just below threshold and accept that the 19.48% ramps will spike you well above it; the goal is to recover on the flatter stretches rather than chase a flat power line. The summit at 3433 m means your usable power will fade the higher you go, so bank nothing and stay conservative early.

Gearing

For an HC climb of 23.9 km averaging 6.95% with pitches to 19.48%, gear low and gear generously. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette is the baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained gradients, but on the steepest ramps near 19.48% — and with the altitude sapping your legs above 3000 m — you will be grateful for a 34×34 or lower. If your frame and derailleur accept it, err toward the easier ratio. Spinning a light gear preserves your knees and your glycogen over 1662 m of climbing.

Summary

Alto del Cabra rewards the patient: nearly 24 km of climbing, thin high-altitude air, and steep ramps demand respect from base to summit. Pace it off your FTP, gear low, and let the long shallow sections do the recovering.

Length: 23.9 km
Average gradient: 6.95%
Max gradient: 19.48%
Start: 1771 m
Summit: 3433 m
Net gain: 1662 m
Total ascent: 1642 m
Category: HC