Collado del Piornal

Overview

Collado del Piornal is a long, sustained ascent that rewards patience over aggression. Over 21.7 km it climbs from a start elevation of 902 m to a summit of 2142 m, banking 1240 m of net elevation gain along the way. The average gradient sits at 5.71%, which reads as moderate on paper but stretches into a genuine endurance test once you factor in the distance. This is a category-1 climb — one rung below hors catégorie — and everything about its profile points to a ride measured in effort budgets rather than heroics. Total ascent comes in at 1198 m, a touch below the net figure, which tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly with only minor give-back.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to respect is the 29.33% maximum gradient. A pitch that steep is a wall, not a ramp, and it can appear even on a climb whose average is a manageable 5.71%. That gap between the 5.71% mean and the 29.33% peak is the whole story here: long stretches of steady, rhythm-friendly grade punctuated by sharp spikes that shatter any pace you've settled into. Because the net gain (1240 m) exceeds the total ascent (1198 m) only marginally, you can assume the road rarely descends — you climb, then you climb harder, then you climb again. Read the terrain in blocks rather than as one continuous effort, and save something for the ramps that jump well above the average.

Pacing Notes

At 21.7 km, this is a climb where discipline early buys you legs late. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold the sustained sections just under threshold, leaving headroom for the steep pitches toward 29.33% where power naturally surges. If you don't know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you go so you're pacing to real data, not a guess. The trap on a 5.71% average is riding it like it's flat-friendly — it isn't. Treat the first two-thirds as investment and the final third as withdrawal, and you'll crest the 2142 m summit having spent evenly rather than blowing up on a single wall.

Gearing

Gear for the spikes, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front, and on the back you'll want real range: a 34×32 is the floor for most riders tackling a 29.33% maximum on tired legs 21.7 km in. If you climb at a lower cadence, spin light, or want insurance for the steepest ramps, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket is cheap protection against grinding to a standstill on the worst pitch. Given a net gain of 1240 m and sustained grade throughout, err toward the easier setup; you'll rarely regret a gear you didn't need, but you'll always regret the one you left at home.

Summary

Collado del Piornal is a distance-and-spikes climb: 21.7 km of mostly relentless grade averaging 5.71%, with a brutal 29.33% peak that punishes anyone who paces it like the average. Ride it in blocks, gear low, and respect the 1240 m of vertical between the 902 m base and the 2142 m top.

Length: 21.7 km
Average gradient: 5.71%
Max gradient: 29.33%
Start: 902 m
Summit: 2142 m
Net gain: 1240 m
Total ascent: 1198 m
Category: 1