El Retamar

Overview

El Retamar is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest rung on the road-cycling ladder above categories 1, 2, 3 and 4. It runs for 30 km at an average gradient of 7.25%, lifting you from a start elevation of just 26 m to a summit at 2202 m. That is a net elevation gain of 2176 m, with 2150 m of total ascent packed into a single sustained push. A max gradient of 13.57% marks the steepest ramp, but the defining feature here is not one wall — it is the sheer, relentless length of the effort.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The numbers describe a long, honest climb. Thirty kilometres averaging 7.25% is the kind of gradient that never lets you settle into recovery: it is steep enough to keep you working every pedal stroke, but shallow enough on average that you cannot simply grind a survival gear and be done in twenty minutes. With near-total agreement between the 2176 m of net gain and 2150 m of total ascent, this is an almost uninterrupted ascent — very little descending or flat to break the rhythm. The 13.57% max tells you there are pitches well above the average, so expect the road to rear up in sections while the overall trend climbs steadily toward 2202 m. Nearly two vertical kilometres above your 26 m start, the summit air will feel noticeably thinner.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline early is everything. The 7.25% average is your reference: any effort that pushes you well over threshold in the first few kilometres will cost you dearly across the remaining distance. Anchor your pacing to your FTP and aim to ride the bulk of the 30 km at or just below it, saving headroom for the 13.57% ramps where power naturally spikes. If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit — going out too hard on a 2176 m ascent is the classic way to blow up before the summit. Fuel and drink steadily from the base; a climb of this length rewards consistent intake, not late-race scrambling.

Gearing

Gear for the length and the steep pitches, not the average. For most riders tackling a 30 km HC climb with ramps to 13.57%, a compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front. Pair it with at least a 34×32 for the sustained 7.25% grind, and strongly consider a 34×34 if you want a genuine bail-out gear for the steepest sections near 13.57% or for the thin air approaching 2202 m. The extra sprocket costs almost nothing in weight and buys you cadence — which, across 2176 m of climbing, protects your legs far more than a marginally taller gear ever could.

Summary

El Retamar is a true HC test: 30 km, 2176 m of net gain, and a summit at 2202 m that demands patience, pacing and the right gearing. Respect the distance, spin the climbs, and the numbers will reward a steady ride.

Length: 30 km
Average gradient: 7.25%
Max gradient: 13.57%
Start: 26 m
Summit: 2202 m
Net gain: 2176 m
Total ascent: 2150 m
Category: HC