Collado de la Cierva o de la Mina

Overview

The Collado de la Cierva o de la Mina is a long, patient climb rather than a wall. Across 16.6 km it gains 549 m of net elevation, rising from 1161 m at the base to a summit of 1710 m. That works out to an average gradient of just 3.3%, which on paper reads like a warm-up. The total ascent of 584 m tells a slightly more honest story: the road rolls, dips and recovers, so you climb a little more than the raw start-to-summit difference of 549 m suggests. It carries a category 3 rating, the third rung down from the hardest hors catégorie label, and that number fits a climb defined by distance and altitude rather than punishing steepness.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not let the 3.3% average lull you. A climb this long almost never delivers its gradient evenly, and the max of 14.88% proves it. Somewhere in these 16.6 km there is a pitch more than four times steeper than the average, so the effort is front-loaded into a handful of sharp ramps stitched between long, gentle drags. Expect stretches well below 3.3% where you can spin and breathe, punctuated by short kicks that spike the heart rate before easing off again. The 35 m gap between the 549 m net gain and the 584 m total ascent confirms there are false descents along the way, small giveaways that must be re-climbed. Plan for a rhythm that flexes rather than one steady tempo.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is modest but the peaks are sharp, pace this climb off your sustainable power, not the gradient sign. Hold something close to your FTP through the shallow sections and allow controlled surges over the 14.88% ramps, then settle straight back down rather than chasing the effort. At 1710 m of altitude the thinner air trims a few percent from your usual output, so give yourself a little margin. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a target, then ride the flats slightly under it so you have headroom for the steep bits. Over 16.6 km, going out too hard on the first ramp costs you far more than the seconds it seems to save.

Gearing

The 3.3% average will not trouble most setups, but the 14.88% max is where gearing earns its keep after 16.6 km of accumulated fatigue. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the smart baseline. A 34×32 gives most riders enough range to keep a comfortable cadence over the steepest pitch; if you climb at lower cadences or carry extra kit, a 34×34 buys crucial insurance so you can stay seated and spinning rather than grinding to a lurching, out-of-the-saddle crawl near the top.

Summary

The Collado de la Cierva o de la Mina rewards patience: a long, mostly gentle ascent to real altitude, with a few teeth hidden in its 14.88% ramps. Pace it to your power, gear for the steep bits, and let the 16.6 km come to you.

Length: 16.6 km
Average gradient: 3.3%
Max gradient: 14.88%
Start: 1161 m
Summit: 1710 m
Net gain: 549 m
Total ascent: 584 m
Category: 3