Degollada de los Molinos

Overview

The Degollada de los Molinos is a long, uneven category 2 ascent that covers 16.3 km from a low start at 74 m to a summit of 754 m. On paper the 4.18% average gradient reads as gentle, but the number hides the truth: a max pitch of 18.45% means this climb is anything but steady. With 680 m of net elevation gain and 664 m of total ascent, the two figures sit close together — a sign the road climbs almost continuously, with little in the way of descending relief to break it up. This is a rhythm climb punctuated by moments that demand real force.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 4.18% across 16.3 km tells you the effort is spread thin over a long canvas, but the shape matters more than the mean. The gap between the 4.18% average and the 18.45% maximum is enormous, which means the climb banks plenty of near-flat and shallow kilometres to offset the ramps that spike toward 18%. Expect long draggy sections where you can settle into a cadence, interrupted by short, sharp kickers that briefly quadruple the effort. Because net gain (680 m) and total ascent (664 m) are so similar, there are no meaningful downhill breathers — every metre of climbing is a metre you keep. Read the road ahead and save something for the steep pitches.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this variable, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and treat the shallow ramps as recovery rather than opportunities to attack. The danger with a 4.18% average is going out too hard, assuming the whole 16.3 km will feel that easy — then getting shredded when the gradient jumps toward 18.45%. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride, and aim to sit just under threshold on the shallow parts so you have headroom when the road rears up. Over 16.3 km and 680 m of gain, a controlled, slightly conservative first half pays dividends on the steep back end.

Gearing

The 18.45% maximum is what dictates your gearing here, not the modest average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is the sensible baseline for most riders tackling this climb, giving you a low enough bailout gear to keep the pedals turning through the steep ramps without cross-chaining or grinding. If you carry less power-to-weight, weigh more, or simply want to protect your knees on 680 m of climbing, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket buys precious cadence when the gradient bites near 18%. Better to spin an easy gear you don't fully need than to be stuck mashing on a pitch that steep.

Summary

The Degollada de los Molinos rewards patience: a long 16.3 km climb whose gentle 4.18% average masks brutal ramps toward 18.45%. Pace it to your threshold, gear low for the steep pitches, and respect the near-continuous 680 m of gain.

Length: 16.3 km
Average gradient: 4.18%
Max gradient: 18.45%
Start: 74 m
Summit: 754 m
Net gain: 680 m
Total ascent: 664 m
Category: 2