El Gamoniteiru

Overview

El Gamoniteiru is a hors catégorie (HC) climb in Spain, and it is a serious undertaking at any fitness level. It runs 19.9 km from a start elevation of 368 m to a summit at 1,729 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 1,361 m. On paper that is already a long, sustained effort, and the HC label is earned by the combination of distance and vertical.

The number that reshapes the whole ride is total ascent: 2,093 m against a net gain of 1,361 m. That 732 m gap means the road does not climb cleanly. Somewhere across those 19.9 km you give back roughly 732 m of hard-won height and then reclaim it. Undulation like this is deceptively costly. Every metre of descent is a metre you climb twice, and the short recoveries rarely last long enough to feel like rest. Budget for more work than the net figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.83% average is an honest-looking number that hides a rough distribution. With a maximum gradient of 22.45%, this climb is not evenly graded — the average is pulled down by flatter and descending sections, which means the climbing pitches are steeper than 6.83% to compensate. Expect the road to swing between easy stretches and walls.

• Flatter and descending sections that account for the 732 m of extra ascent and give brief, inconsistent recovery
• Repeated short climbs where the gradient jumps well above the average
• A steepest ramp reaching 22.45%, steep enough to force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you can pace to even effort and let speed vary. Here the undulation makes that harder: even effort still means surging over each 22.45% ramp, so cap your bursts rather than chasing a target speed on the steep bits. Pick a sustainable power output you can hold for the full 19.9 km, then allow spikes above it only on the steepest pitches — and use the descents to genuinely soft-pedal, not to push. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go so your target is grounded rather than guessed.

Gearing

The 22.45% maximum gradient governs your gearing choice, not the average. That ramp is steep enough that an under-geared bike will bury you. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a fighting chance to spin rather than grind. Check your setup before the ride, not at the base of the climb.

Summary

• Length: 19.9 km
• Average gradient: 6.83%
• Maximum gradient: 22.45%
• Net elevation gain: 1,361 m
• Total ascent: 2,093 m
• Category: HC

El Gamoniteiru rewards riders who respect the gap between its net gain and its total ascent. Pace to a sustainable output, gear for the 22.45% wall, and treat the 732 m of hidden climbing as part of the plan rather than a surprise.