Alto del Hondojón

Overview

Alto del Hondojón is a category 1 climb that asks for genuine respect. Over 14.4 km it averages 6.62%, lifting you from a valley floor at 169 m to a summit of 1121 m. That works out to 952 m of net elevation gain, with 926 m of total ascent logged along the way — a sign that the road climbs almost relentlessly, with little in the way of downhill relief. It is long enough to test your patience and steep enough in places, with a maximum gradient of 16.11%, to break a rhythm you thought was secure.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number of 6.62% tells only part of the story. On a climb this length, an average gradient hides both the softer stretches where you can breathe and the sharp ramps that spike toward 16.11%. Expect the road to pulse rather than hold steady: sections that sit comfortably below the average, then pitches that climb well into double digits and force you out of the saddle. The gap between the 6.62% average and the 16.11% maximum is nearly ten percentage points, which means the hardest ramps are more than double the effort of the easy ones. Reading the road ahead — and saving something for those steep kicks — matters more here than raw fitness alone.

Pacing Notes

On a 14.4 km climb, pacing is everything. The temptation is to attack the early slopes while your legs feel fresh, but with 952 m of climbing ahead, a blown effort in the first few kilometres will cost you dearly near the top. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to ride the sustained sections just below threshold, keeping a reserve for the 16.11% ramps where you will inevitably surge. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your climb. Treat the steep pitches as short over-threshold efforts and settle back to your target once they pass — the average of 6.62% rewards a rider who stays even rather than one who repeatedly spikes and fades.

Gearing

With a 6.62% average and ramps to 16.11%, gearing is where many riders get caught out. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will carry most fit climbers up the sustained sections, but on the steepest pitches — those approaching 16.11% after you have already climbed toward 952 m — you will be grateful for more. If your legs or your load suggest any doubt, fit a 34×34 and give yourself the extra room to spin rather than grind. Preserving cadence over 14.4 km protects your legs for the final slopes far better than muscling a gear that is fractionally too tall.

Summary

Alto del Hondojón is a long, honest category 1 climb: 14.4 km of steady work punctuated by genuinely steep ramps, delivering nearly a kilometre of vertical gain. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and the summit at 1121 m is well within reach.

Length: 14.4 km
Average gradient: 6.62%
Max gradient: 16.11%
Start: 169 m
Summit: 1121 m
Net gain: 952 m
Total ascent: 926 m
Category: 1