Arnoztegiko lepoa

Overview

Arnoztegiko lepoa is a category 1 climb that asks for patience and respect in equal measure. Over 14.6 km it rises from a valley floor at 220 m to a summit of 1241 m, a net gain of 1021 m at an average gradient of 7%. That average tells only part of the story: with a maximum pitch of 16.73%, this is not a climb you can ride at a single, unbroken tempo. It sits one rung below hors catégorie, and everything about its length and steepness earns that classification.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is a 7% average across 14.6 km, but averages hide the ramps. A climb of this length that also spikes to 16.73% is by definition uneven — the steep pitches are balanced by shallower sections that let the average settle back toward 7%. Expect the road to breathe: stretches where you find a rhythm, punctuated by walls that briefly more than double the average gradient. The gap between the 7% mean and the 16.73% peak is nearly ten percentage points, so the smart approach is to treat the climb as a series of efforts rather than one continuous grind. Note too that the total ascent of 998 m is slightly less than the net elevation gain of 1021 m — a sign the road climbs almost relentlessly, with little descending to reset the legs before the top.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of 14.6 km, pacing is everything. The single biggest mistake is burning matches on the early ramps and paying for it in the final kilometres. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a sustained category 1 climb you want to sit at or just below threshold on the average sections, and let your power drift above it only briefly on the 16.73% pitches before easing back. If you do not know your threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the climb. With 1021 m of vertical to absorb, a steady effort that leaves something in reserve for the steepest ramps will always beat an aggressive start that unravels.

Gearing

Gear for the walls, not the average. A 7% average is manageable, but the 16.73% maximum is where riders on the wrong cassette get caught out and forced to grind at unsustainable torque. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline here. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the average gradient in reasonable comfort, but for the steepest pitches — and to protect your legs across the full 14.6 km — a 34×34 gives you the extra spin to keep cadence high and knees happy. If you tend to climb seated and value staying below your limit, choose the 34×34 without hesitation.

Summary

Arnoztegiko lepoa is a long, honest category 1 climb: 14.6 km, a 7% average, and ramps to 16.73% that demand both fitness and a sensible cassette. Pace it to your threshold, gear it for the steepest sections, and the 1021 m of climbing to the 1241 m summit becomes a rewarding day rather than a survival exercise.

Length: 14.6 km
Average gradient: 7%
Max gradient: 16.73%
Start: 220 m
Summit: 1241 m
Net gain: 1021 m
Total ascent: 998 m
Category: 1