Collado del Muchacho

Overview

Collado del Muchacho is a Category 2 climb in Spain, running 7.4 km from base to summit. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 453 m, starting at 1054 m and topping out at 1507 m. The average gradient sits at 6.14%, placing it firmly in sustained-tempo territory rather than a short, explosive effort.

The number to watch is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 453 m net, but the road actually forces 539 m of total ascent — an extra 86 m of climbing swallowed by descents along the way. That undulation means the profile is not a clean uphill drag: you give back roughly 86 m of hard-won elevation and have to reclaim it. Expect the effort to feel spikier than a flat 6.14% average would suggest, with the real cost hidden in the re-accelerations after each dip.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.14% average is a blend, not a constant. On an undulating climb like this, the average is dragged down by descents and flatter links, which means the climbing pitches are steeper than the headline figure. The steepest ramp bites at 16.9% — more than double the average — so the hardest sections are concentrated, not spread evenly.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road dips or eases, giving back some of that 86 m of extra ascent
• Repeated short climbs stacked between the dips, each requiring a fresh surge of power
• A steepest ramp at 16.9%, the pitch that will define your gearing choice

Pacing Notes

Do not chase even speed on this climb — the undulation punishes it. Holding a constant speed means spiking your power on every steep ramp and coasting on the descents, which burns matches you cannot afford. Instead, pace to even effort: hold a steady sustainable power output through the climbs and let your speed rise on the flatter links and descents.

The 86 m of bonus ascent is where riders bleed time by over-cooking the ramps. Cap your power on the 16.9% pitch rather than defending momentum. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go and set a hard power number for the steep sections.

Gearing

Gearing here is governed by the 16.9% maximum, not the 6.14% average. On a pitch that steep, a standard chainset will have you grinding at low, knee-straining cadence. Fit a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 — so you keep a spinnable cadence on the ramp. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette clears your derailleur and that you can actually reach the 34×34 combination under load.

Summary

• Length: 7.4 km
• Average gradient: 6.14%
• Maximum gradient: 16.9%
• Net elevation gain: 453 m
• Total ascent: 539 m
• Category: 2

Collado del Muchacho rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to effort, gear for the 16.9% ramp, and treat the 86 m of extra ascent as the real challenge rather than the tidy 453 m net figure.