Alto del Granadillo

Overview

Alto del Granadillo is short on paper and savage in the legs. Over just 2.4 km it averages 16.38%, a figure that leaves almost no soft ground anywhere on the road. You start at 1004 m and finish at 1395 m, a net gain of 391 m, with a total ascent of 367 m once the small undulations are counted. Pack that much vertical into so little distance and you get a climb that behaves less like a road and more like a ramp bolted to the hillside. It carries a Category 1 rating, one step below hors catégorie, and every metre of it earns that label.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is consistency. A 16.38% average across 2.4 km means there is no recovery built into the profile — the gradient rarely dips far enough to let you spin. The steepest pitch bites at 23.14%, and on a climb this relentless a ramp like that arrives while your legs are already loaded rather than fresh. Expect the road to sit in the high teens for long stretches and spike toward the low twenties without much warning. Because net gain (391 m) exceeds total ascent (367 m), the surface trends relentlessly upward with only the faintest breaks, so you are effectively climbing the entire time.

Pacing Notes

On a wall this steep, pacing is really power management. Your FTP sets the ceiling, and on a 16.38% average you will spend most of the climb pressing against or above it simply to keep the pedals turning. Because it is only 2.4 km, the temptation is to attack from the base — resist it. Meter your effort through the opening ramps, keep something in reserve for the 23.14% pitch, and let the final metres toward 1395 m be where you empty the tank. If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a plan. Go out too hard here and the last third turns into a survival grind.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. At 16.38% average with a 23.14% max, you want the lowest ratio your bike can carry. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the starting point. A 34×32 is the minimum I would recommend, and even then you will be grinding through the steep sections. If your derailleur can handle it, a 34×34 gives you meaningful extra relief on the 23.14% ramp and lets you keep a survivable cadence rather than lurching from the saddle. On a climb this steep, a lower gear is not a weakness — it is the difference between riding to 1395 m and walking to it.

Summary

Alto del Granadillo is a pure test of steep-climbing strength: 2.4 km that never relent, averaging 16.38%, spiking to 23.14%, and hauling you 391 m up the mountain. Gear low, pace with discipline, and treat every ramp with respect.

Length: 2.4 km
Average gradient: 16.38%
Max gradient: 23.14%
Start: 1004 m
Summit: 1395 m
Net gain: 391 m
Total ascent: 367 m
Category: 1