Collado del Cervunal

Overview

Collado del Cervunal is a Category 2 climb in Spain (ES), running 15 km from a start elevation of 1,219 m to a summit at 1,926 m. On paper it is a mid-length mountain effort with a net elevation gain of 707 m, placing it firmly in territory where fitness matters more than raw punch — but the profile has more going on than the headline numbers suggest.

The gap between the net gain of 707 m and the total ascent of 1,042 m is the story here. That 335 m difference means the road doesn't climb cleanly: it rises, gives back roughly 335 m of descent, and climbs again. You pay for that lost elevation twice — once on the way down when you coast and lose rhythm, and again when you have to reclaim it. Budget your legs for the full 1,042 m of climbing, not the 707 m your GPS summit-minus-start math implies.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The average gradient of 4.72% is a blend, not a constant. Over 15 km of undulating road, that mean flatters the hard parts and hides the easy ones. Expect long stretches well below 4.72% where you can hold speed, punctuated by ramps that bite harder than the average lets on.

• Flatter and false-flat sections where the road nearly levels or tips downhill — momentum, not grinding.
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each resetting your rhythm.
• The steepest ramp landing meaningfully above the 4.72% average — shift early rather than getting caught over-geared.

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, steady climb you can hold even effort and let speed float. Here, undulation breaks that. If you chase even speed, you'll spike your power on every ramp and waste watts fighting descents. Instead, anchor to your sustainable power output: hold a steady, repeatable number on the climbs and soft-pedal or recover on the downhills rather than hammering to keep the same pace.

If you don't know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go. With 1,042 m of total ascent, going 10% too hard early compounds badly by the final ramps.

Gearing

The steep pitches govern your setup. Gear for the hardest ramps, not the 4.72% average — being over-geared on a short steep section forces you into a torque grind that burns matches fast. Run a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette such as 34×32 or 34×34 so you keep a spinnable cadence when the road kicks up.

Check your chainset and cassette before the ride. Confirming your lowest gear at home is far cheaper than discovering it mid-ramp.

Summary

• Length: 15 km
• Average gradient: 4.72%
• Net elevation gain: 707 m
• Total ascent: 1,042 m
• Category: 2

Collado del Cervunal is a fitness climb with a rhythm problem: the 4.72% average and 707 m net gain undersell 1,042 m of real climbing across constant undulation. Pace to power, gear for the ramps, and treat every descent as recovery rather than free speed.