Degollada de los Gatos

Overview

Degollada de los Gatos is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest classification on the scale that runs HC, 1, 2, 3, 4. Over 21.1 km it lifts you from 344 m at the base to 1946 m at the summit, a net elevation gain of 1602 m at an average gradient of 7.6%. The total ascent across the road's undulations comes to 1580 m. Those numbers alone tell the story: this is a long, sustained effort with almost nothing in the way of recovery, and a maximum pitch of 19.09% waiting to break anyone who has misjudged their pacing.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 7.6% held over 21.1 km is relentless by any standard, but averages hide the sting. The 19.09% max is more than two and a half times the average, which means the climb is not evenly graded — there are ramps that pitch far above the sustainable norm and stretches that sit just below it. The shape of a climb like this rewards riders who keep something in reserve for the steep kicks and refuse to chase the average on the shallower sections. With 1602 m of vertical to gain and a summit at 1946 m, expect the air to thin noticeably in the upper reaches, and expect the last kilometres to feel harder than the gradient printed on paper.

Pacing Notes

On a 21.1 km climb, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP: for most riders, a sustainable all-day climbing effort sits a touch below threshold, giving you headroom to surge over the 19.09% pitches without blowing apart. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace. Start conservatively — the first few kilometres feel deceptively manageable when you're fresh, and going out too hard here is a mistake you pay for across the remaining distance. Meter your effort so the steep ramps cost watts, not your entire race. With 1602 m to gain, the climb is decided in its final third, not its first.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. A 19.09% max gradient over a climb that already averages 7.6% for 21.1 km demands a wide, forgiving cassette. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with at least a 32-tooth sprocket (34×32) is the sensible floor for strong climbers. If you're carrying any fatigue, doubt your climbing legs, or simply want to spin rather than grind the steepest ramps, step up to a 34×34. The extra range is cheap insurance on 1602 m of climbing — the ability to keep your cadence up on the 19.09% sections will preserve your legs far more than a marginally lighter setup ever could.

Summary

Degollada de los Gatos is a full-length HC test: 21.1 km, 7.6% average, and a 19.09% max, gaining 1602 m net from base to summit. Gear low, pace with your head, and respect the distance.

Length: 21.1 km
Average gradient: 7.6%
Max gradient: 19.09%
Start: 344 m
Summit: 1946 m
Net gain: 1602 m
Total ascent: 1580 m
Category: HC