Collado del Arcipreste

Overview

Collado del Arcipreste is a Category 2 climb that covers 8.8 km at an average gradient of 6.4%. It starts at 946 m and tops out at 1510 m, a net elevation gain of 564 m over its full length. The total ascent logs 541 m, a hint that the road gives back a little along the way rather than climbing relentlessly. With a maximum gradient of 15.67%, this is a climb defined less by sustained severity than by a handful of sharp ramps punctuating an otherwise honest, rhythmic grade. At roughly 6.4% for nearly nine kilometres, it demands a controlled, repeatable effort rather than heroics.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is that 6.4% average, but averages flatten the real story. The gap between the 541 m of total ascent and the 564 m net gain tells you the profile isn't perfectly monotonic — there are brief lulls where the grade eases. Those recovery moments matter, because the flip side is the 15.67% maximum: more than double the average. Expect the climb to sit patiently in the 5–7% range for long stretches, then rear up into steep pitches that force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear. The smart approach is to treat the average as your baseline metronome and save headroom for the spikes.

Pacing Notes

Because the sustained gradient hovers near 6.4%, this climb rewards riders who hold a steady power output rather than surging. Pin your effort just below your FTP for the shallower kilometres so you have matches to burn when the road kicks toward 15.67%. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort. Over 8.8 km, small pacing errors compound — go too deep early on the lower slopes and the steep ramps will find you empty. Aim to arrive at each spike with enough reserve to grind through it without blowing past your ceiling, then settle back to your baseline once the grade relents.

Gearing

For a 6.4% average that touches 15.67%, gearing is about protecting your cadence on the steepest ramps. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front choice. Pair it with at least a 34×32 for most riders, which keeps your legs spinning on the sustained middle section. If you know you'll be tired, prefer a higher cadence, or want insurance against those double-digit pitches, a 34×34 gives you a meaningfully easier bailout gear. Given the 564 m of climbing packed into 8.8 km, the extra ratio is rarely wasted — better to spin than to grind yourself into the red on a 15.67% wall.

Summary

Collado del Arcipreste is a fair, well-shaped Category 2 climb: long enough to test your pacing over 8.8 km, steep enough in places to punish a bad gear choice, but consistent enough to reward a rider who holds their rhythm from 946 m to the 1510 m summit.

Length: 8.8 km
Average gradient: 6.4%
Max gradient: 15.67%
Start: 946 m
Summit: 1510 m
Net gain: 564 m
Total ascent: 541 m
Category: 2