Alto del Cordal

What to Expect on Alto del Cordal

Alto del Cordal is a Category 2 climb in Spain that runs for 10.1 kilometres from a start elevation of 247 metres to a summit at 780 metres, delivering 533 metres of net elevation gain. That headline average of 5.25% sounds manageable — until the road decides otherwise.

The catch is a maximum gradient of 21.98%. That figure is not a typo, and it changes how you have to approach every kilometre before it arrives. The total ascent of 1,002 metres — significantly more than the 533-metre net gain — tells the full story: this road undulates, recovers, and then hits you again rather than climbing in a clean, linear arc.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The lower slopes from 247 metres tend to lull riders into a rhythm. The average across the full 10.1 km is moderate enough that a controlled tempo feels sustainable. Do not be fooled. The gap between the 5.25% average and the 21.98% maximum represents one of the wider spread-to-average ratios you will encounter on a climb of this length, which means at least one section departs violently from what the numbers suggest overall.

That near-22% ramp — wherever it sits in the profile — will feel close to a wall if you have spent your matches on the approach. Roads in this part of Spain frequently mix long drags with short, brutal kickers, and the total ascent figure of over 1,000 metres confirms that this climb earns its vertical through repeated punching rather than steady grinding.

Pacing Notes

• Anchor to your FTP, not the road. An average gradient of 5.25% invites most riders to push above threshold early. Resist it. The total ascent of 1,002 m over 10.1 km means there is more climbing stored in the terrain than the summit elevation difference suggests.
• Target 85–90% of FTP on the moderate sections. Use the FTP Estimator if you are unsure of your current number before attempting this at race pace.
• Treat the maximum gradient section as a short climb within the climb. At nearly 22%, you are in full anaerobic territory regardless of pacing discipline. The goal is to arrive there with reserves, not already at the limit.
• Spin up before the steep ramp. If you can read the road ahead, shift down one or two cogs before the gradient kicks, not during it.

Gearing Recommendations

For a climb where the maximum gradient approaches 22%, gearing is not optional planning — it is a prerequisite. Riders on road doubles should target a 34-tooth inner chainring minimum. On the rear, a cassette with at least a 32-tooth sprocket gives you somewhere to go on the steepest pitch without grinding to a halt or standing out of the saddle for an extended period.

Riders who regularly climb in the 39×28 range on gentler European cols will find that combination uncomfortable on the maximum ramp here. Over-gearing on a 21.98% wall compounds fatigue rapidly and can compromise the rest of the descent and any riding that follows.

Summary

Alto del Cordal is a climb that punishes riders who read only the average gradient. The 10.1-kilometre length gives it enough runway to set a tempo, but the 533-metre net gain, 1,002-metre total ascent, and a near-22% maximum gradient demand that you treat it as a variable-intensity effort, not a steady-state grind. Arrive conserved, gear appropriately, and respect the ramp.