Degollada del Cedro

Overview

Degollada del Cedro is a genuine hors-catégorie (HC) climb, and the numbers leave no room for doubt. Over 28.4 km it averages 7.21%, lifting you from a start elevation of just 74 m to a summit at 2126 m. That is a net elevation gain of 2052 m, with 2033 m of total ascent packed into a single sustained effort. Climbs of this length and altitude are rare — this is a full mountain day compressed into one relentless ramp, and it deserves respect before you turn a single pedal stroke.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure — 7.21% average — is the kind of number that punishes riders who treat it like a rolling gradient. Across 28.4 km there is almost nowhere to truly recover, and the near-total match between net gain (2052 m) and total ascent (2033 m) tells you this is an honest, one-directional climb: it goes up, then it keeps going up. The 15.71% maximum gradient is the moment that will define your ride. It sits more than double the average, so wherever it lands it will feel like a wall after the fatigue of the preceding kilometres. Because the difference between the average and the max is so large, the smart move is to bank a steady rhythm early and hold reserves for the steep pitch rather than burning matches on the shallower stretches.

Pacing Notes

At 28.4 km, this is an effort measured in tens of minutes to well over an hour, which means your FTP is the single most useful number you can bring to it. On a climb this long, riding above threshold early is the classic mistake — the 7.21% average will keep taxing you all the way to 2126 m, and there is no flat section to bail you out. Aim to settle just below threshold, then allow yourself to dip into the red only when the gradient spikes toward 15.71%. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run your recent numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace. Getting this right is the difference between a strong summit and a slow-motion unravelling over the final kilometres.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With 2052 m of climbing at 7.21% and a max of 15.71%, you want cadence options, not ego. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is the sensible baseline for strong climbers, giving you a 1:1 low that keeps your legs turning on the sustained middle sections. For most riders — and for anyone tackling this at the end of a long day — a 34×34 is the wiser call, buying you a touch more headroom for the 15.71% ramp and protecting your knees over 28.4 km. If your bike allows an even easier gear, take it; nobody has ever regretted spinning up an HC climb.

Summary

Degollada del Cedro is a true HC test: long, high, and unrelenting. Pace it to threshold, gear it low, and let the 15.71% pitch come to you rather than chasing it. Do that, and the summit at 2126 m is yours.

Length: 28.4 km
Average gradient: 7.21%
Max gradient: 15.71%
Start: 74 m
Summit: 2126 m
Net gain: 2052 m
Total ascent: 2033 m
Category: HC