Alto del Tejuelo

Overview

Alto del Tejuelo is a Category 1 climb that stretches 11.9 km from a base at 118 m to a summit of 895 m. That works out to 777 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 6.54%. On paper the average reads as a steady tempo effort, but a max gradient of 28.08% tells you the story is not uniform: this is a climb with real teeth hidden inside an otherwise honest average. At just under 12 km it is long enough to demand pacing discipline, and steep enough in places to punish anyone who spends their matches early.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.54% average is a number to respect rather than fear, but averages flatten out the drama. With a max of 28.08% recorded on this ascent — more than four times the average — you should expect at least one wall that far exceeds anything the mean suggests. The total ascent of 745 m sits just below the 777 m net gain, which means the climb is almost entirely uphill with little to no descending or false-flat relief to recover on. Read that as a climb that rarely lets you coast. Between the pitches that spike toward that 28% figure, gradients likely settle back toward and below the average, giving you fleeting windows to reset your breathing before the road tilts up again.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is 6.54% but the climb hides a 28.08% ramp, pacing by feel alone is a trap. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a sustainable percentage of it across the first two-thirds, saving headroom for the steep sections rather than blowing up on them. If you do not know your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. On the steepest pitches, accept that your power will surge above threshold briefly — that is unavoidable at 28% — but keep those surges short and return to your anchor pace as soon as the road eases. Over 11.9 km, consistency beats heroics every time.

Gearing

Gear for the steep ramp, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline for the 6.54% mean, but the 28.08% max is where that setup can leave you grinding at unsustainable cadence. If you have the option, fit a 34×34 to give yourself a lower bailout gear for the worst pitches — the extra range is cheap insurance on a climb that gains 777 m over 11.9 km. Bigger riders and anyone carrying fatigue should default to the 34×34 without hesitation.

Summary

Alto del Tejuelo rewards riders who respect its 6.54% average while preparing for its 28.08% spikes. Pace to your threshold, gear low, and treat the 745 m of ascent as one continuous effort with no free recovery.

Length: 11.9 km
Average gradient: 6.54%
Max gradient: 28.08%
Start: 118 m
Summit: 895 m
Net gain: 777 m
Total ascent: 745 m
Category: 1