Erreniegako mendilerroa

Overview

Erreniegako mendilerroa is a category 3 climb that runs for 8.3 km, carrying you from a start elevation of 352 m up to a summit at 681 m. On paper the numbers read gentle: the average gradient is 3.98%, and the net elevation gain is 329 m. That places it firmly in the tempo-climb bracket — long enough to matter, but never steep enough to force a full-on survival crawl. What makes it interesting is the gap between its calm average and its sharper punches, with the steepest ramp hitting 8.76%.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 3.98% across 8.3 km tells you this is not a wall — it is a sustained grind. But averages hide the texture. With a maximum gradient of 8.76%, more than double the mean, the climb clearly stacks its difficulty into a handful of steeper ramps rather than spreading effort evenly.

There is another quiet clue in the data. The net elevation gain is 329 m, yet the total ascent is 310 m — meaning the road is not a single unbroken rise. Short flatter or gently downward stretches break up the climbing, letting the gradient reset before the next pitch. Expect a rolling profile: pull hard through a ramp toward that 8.76% ceiling, then briefly recover as the road eases, then repeat. Reading the ramps rather than the average is the key to riding this one well.

Pacing Notes

Because the difficulty is unevenly distributed, pacing by feel is a trap. The gentle 3.98% average invites you to push too hard early, and then the 8.76% ramps sting. Anchor your effort to your FTP instead: hold a controlled sub-threshold pace on the shallow sections, and allow the harder pitches to lift you briefly above threshold, knowing the flatter breaks that follow will let your legs clear.

If you do not know your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your climb. Over 8.3 km with 329 m to gain, a rider who meters effort across the ramps will always beat one who empties the tank on the first steep section.

Gearing

Nothing here demands ultra-compact gearing, but the 8.76% ramps reward having a little in reserve. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is ideal. A 34×32 will comfortably handle the steeper pitches for most trained riders while keeping cadence high on the flatter 3.98% stretches. If you climb at a lower cadence, prefer spinning, or are carrying fatigue late in a ride, size up to a 34×34 for extra insurance on the ramps. Either setup lets you sit and spin rather than grind, which is exactly how you want to ride a rolling category 3.

Summary

Erreniegako mendilerroa is a friendly-looking climb with a bit of bite tucked into its ramps. Respect the 8.76% pitches, use the flatter breaks to recover, and it rewards smart, steady riding.

Length: 8.3 km
Average gradient: 3.98%
Max gradient: 8.76%
Start: 352 m
Summit: 681 m
Net gain: 329 m
Total ascent: 310 m
Category: 3