Collado de la Gitana

Overview

Collado de la Gitana is a Category 1 climb in Spain that runs 10 km from a start elevation of 1,048 m to a summit at 1,764 m. On paper it is a net elevation gain of 716 m, which alone would suggest a steady, honest grind at a moderate gradient. The 7.16% average confirms that impression: a hard but manageable climb for a rider with the fitness to sit at threshold for the better part of an hour.

The number that reframes the effort is total ascent. Across the 10 km you climb 1,151 m in total, not 716 m — a gap of 435 m. That extra height comes from descents and dips you have to re-climb, meaning this is not a single unbroken slope. You pay for that 435 m twice: once losing it, once earning it back. The undulation makes the climb harder than its net profile implies and demands more from your legs than the average gradient suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.16% average is a blend, not a constant. Because 435 m of the climbing is undulation, the flatter and downhill sections drag the average down — which means the climbing sections sit well above 7.16% to compensate. The steepest ramp reaches 34.13%, a wall that will force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear regardless of how you have paced the rest.

• Flatter or downhill recovery sections that lower the average but cost you rhythm
• Repeated short climbs where you re-gain the 435 m of undulation
• Sustained pitches noticeably steeper than the 7.16% average
• A single steepest ramp near 34% that dictates your gearing choice

Pacing Notes

Do not chase an even speed on this climb. The undulation means holding a constant pace forces you to spike your power on every re-climb and coast through the dips — a fast way to burn matches you need later. Instead, ride to an even effort. Keep your sustainable power output as your ceiling on the steep sections and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain.

On the flatter and downhill stretches, back off rather than pushing to maintain pace. On the repeated short climbs, hold your target power and accept the slower speed. If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan.

Gearing

The steepest ramp of 34.13% governs your setup, not the average. At that gradient no amount of fitness substitutes for a low enough gear. Run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 at minimum. If your legs are not built for grinding, err toward the easier option.

Check your drivetrain before the ride. Confirm the cassette and chainring you think are fitted are actually there, and that the rear derailleur can handle the largest sprocket. Discovering you are over-geared on a 34% wall is not a mistake you can fix mid-climb.

Summary

• Length: 10 km
• Average gradient: 7.16%
• Maximum gradient: 34.13%
• Net elevation gain: 716 m
• Total ascent: 1,151 m
• Category: 1

Collado de la Gitana rewards riders who respect the gap between its 716 m net gain and 1,151 m of total climbing. Pace to effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the undulation as the real challenge.