Collado del Alguacil

Overview

Collado del Alguacil is a category-1 climb that asks for patience and honesty in equal measure. From its base at 676 m it stretches out over 22.7 km before topping out at 1894 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 1218 m. On paper the average gradient of 5.36% reads as merely firm, but that number hides the story: with a maximum pitch of 13.95%, this is a climb that rewards riders who ration their effort across a long, uneven ascent rather than attacking early.

At more than 22 km in length, the Alguacil sits firmly in the "long climb" bracket, where the total ascent of 1201 m accumulates gradually rather than in one dramatic wall. The gap between the net gain of 1218 m and the total ascent of 1201 m tells you the road is broadly consistent in direction, without significant descending to give your legs a break.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining tension of this climb is the spread between the 5.36% average and the 13.95% maximum. That is a wide range, meaning the road is not evenly pitched. Long stretches sit below the average, lulling you into a rhythm, and then the gradient bites with ramps steep enough to force you out of the saddle or deep into your smallest gears.

Because the summit stands at 1894 m and the climb covers 22.7 km, you gain a little over 53 metres of altitude per kilometre on average. But treat that figure as a planning tool, not a promise — the steepest section at nearly 14% is more than double the average, so the difficulty is front-and-back-loaded across the ascent rather than uniform.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing beats power. Aim to hold a sustainable percentage of your FTP for the flatter, sub-average sections, and keep a reserve for the 13.95% ramp so you are not blown apart when the road tilts up. Riding the shallower gradients too hard is the classic error on a 22.7 km ascent — you pay for it later.

If you are unsure of your threshold, run your numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target effort. Over 1218 m of gain, a well-judged pace will save you far more time than a heroic early surge.

Gearing

For a 22.7 km climb averaging 5.36% with pitches to 13.95%, gearing is not optional comfort — it is what keeps your cadence alive on the steep sections. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders over the summit, but on the 13.95% ramp a 34×34 gives you the extra spin to protect your legs across the full 1201 m of ascent. If your bike accepts it, err toward the easier ratio; there is no prize for grinding.

Summary

Collado del Alguacil is a genuine test of endurance: a category-1 climb that never quite lets you settle, mixing long moderate stretches with a punishing 13.95% pitch across 22.7 km and 1218 m of vertical gain. Pace it honestly, gear it generously, and the summit at 1894 m is well within reach.

Length: 22.7 km
Average gradient: 5.36%
Max gradient: 13.95%
Start: 676 m
Summit: 1894 m
Net gain: 1218 m
Total ascent: 1201 m
Category: 1