Alto del Gavilán

Overview

Alto del Gavilán is a climb that leaves no room for negotiation. Over 25.6 km it averages 9.37%, hauling you from a valley floor at 974 m to a summit at 3374 m. That is a net elevation gain of 2400 m, with a total ascent of 2454 m once the small dips and rerises are counted. Rated HC — hors catégorie, the hardest tier above categories 1 through 4 — this is one of those rare ascents where the average gradient alone is steeper than the maximum pitch on many famous climbs. The thin air near the top only sharpens the difficulty.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Gavilán is relentlessness. A 9.37% average over 25.6 km means there is almost nowhere to recover — the road simply keeps tilting up. Expect long, sustained ramps well into double digits, punctuated by harder kicks that peak at 20.27%. Those maximum sections are brutal, but the real challenge is the sheer duration: even the "easy" stretches sit close to the average, so your legs never fully reset. With the summit at 3374 m, the final kilometers combine steep grades with altitude, and the gap between the 974 m start and the top means the environment itself changes as you climb. Break the effort into thirds and treat each as its own climb.

Pacing Notes

Discipline is everything here. On a 25.6 km ascent at 9.37%, going out too hard in the first few kilometers is the classic mistake — the climb is long enough that early over-exertion compounds badly. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power. Riders should target a percentage of FTP they can genuinely hold for the full duration, not the number they can survive for ten minutes. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace. On the 20.27% ramps, allow your power to spike briefly, then settle back down rather than trying to smooth them out — chasing an even effort on the steepest pitches will cook you.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. With a 9.37% average dragging on for 25.6 km and kicks to 20.27%, low ratios are not a luxury — they are survival. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the baseline. A 34×32 is the minimum most riders should consider, and even strong climbers will be grateful for a 34×34 on the steepest ramps, especially deep into the climb where fatigue and 3374 m of altitude conspire against you. If your bike accepts a larger cassette or a sub-compact setup, take it. Preserving cadence over 2400 m of gain protects your knees and keeps you spinning rather than grinding to a halt on a 20% wall.

Summary

Alto del Gavilán is a genuine HC test: long, steep, and unforgiving from the 974 m start to the 3374 m summit. Gear low, pace with your threshold, and respect the altitude. Get those three right and the climb becomes a landmark achievement rather than a survival ordeal.

Length: 25.6 km
Average gradient: 9.37%
Max gradient: 20.27%
Start: 974 m
Summit: 3374 m
Net gain: 2400 m
Total ascent: 2454 m
Category: HC