Degollada de las Brujas

Overview

Degollada de las Brujas is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest rating in cycling. It runs 16.3 km and averages 7.41%, hauling you from a start elevation of just 14 m to a summit at 1224 m. That is 1210 m of net elevation gain, and because the road pitches and dips along the way, you actually accumulate 1312 m of total ascent — 102 m more than the straight-line gain suggests. Add a fearsome 32.02% maximum gradient and you have a climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 7.41% tells only part of the story. Starting almost at sea level and topping out at 1224 m over 16.3 km, the climb sustains steepness for a very long time. The gap between the 7.41% average and the 32.02% maximum is enormous — over 24 percentage points — which means the road is anything but uniform. Expect long stretches near or above the average, punctuated by brutal ramps where the gradient spikes into the twenties and, at its worst, past 32%. The 102 m difference between net gain (1210 m) and total ascent (1312 m) confirms there are false flats and small descents that break the rhythm, forcing you to repeatedly rebuild speed on an already punishing gradient.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. At 16.3 km and 7.41% average, the effort will run well beyond most riders' one-hour capacity, so pace it against your sustainable threshold rather than any single steep ramp. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something in reserve for the 32.02% maximum pitch, where cadence collapses and torque demands spike sharply. If you do not know your threshold, estimate it first with the FTP estimator, then target a power that leaves headroom. The danger here is going too hard early: with 1210 m of climbing ahead from a 14 m start, an overcooked opening will cost you dearly in the final kilometres. Ride the steepest ramps a touch below your ceiling and let the shallower sections be your recovery.

Gearing

A 32.02% maximum gradient over a 16.3 km climb is a gearing problem as much as a fitness one. Do not under-gear this one. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 low is a sensible minimum, but on the 32.02% ramps even that will feel heavy when you are already 1000-plus metres into the ascent. If your legs or your terrain give you any doubt, fit a 34×34 to give yourself an extra escape gear. The lower ratio lets you spin rather than grind through the spikes, protecting your knees and preserving the leg speed you will need across all 1210 m of climbing.

Summary

Degollada de las Brujas is a genuine HC test: long, steep, and relentless, with a 32.02% wall lurking within a 7.41% average. Gear low, pace against your threshold, and respect the full 1312 m of ascent.

Length: 16.3 km
Average gradient: 7.41%
Max gradient: 32.02%
Start: 14 m
Summit: 1224 m
Net gain: 1210 m
Total ascent: 1312 m
Category: HC