Etxegarateko mendatea

Overview

Etxegarateko mendatea is a category 2 climb that covers 9.7 km at an average gradient of 5.74%. It starts at 189 m and tops out at 747 m, so the road delivers 558 m of net elevation gain from bottom to summit. The measured total ascent is 528 m, and the small gap between net gain and total ascent tells you the profile isn't perfectly monotonous — there are short reliefs where the road flattens or dips before climbing again. On paper the 5.74% average looks steady and inviting, but the headline number hides a sharp maximum gradient of 26.19%, which is what separates a comfortable tempo effort from a climb that can genuinely hurt.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The maths of this climb are the key to riding it well. A 5.74% average across 9.7 km is a classic mid-length category 2 gradient — hard enough to demand real work, gentle enough that most riders can sit and spin. But an average is a blend, and a 26.19% max means some portion of the road is more than four times steeper than the mean. For every stretch that ramps toward that 26.19% wall, there has to be an offsetting section well below 5.74% to keep the overall figure honest. Expect a rhythm of firmer pitches punctuated by easier drags, with at least one leg-snapping ramp that arrives faster than the average suggests. Reading the profile as a flat 5.74% is the most common way to blow up here.

Pacing Notes

Pace this climb off your sustainable power, not off feel on the opening slopes. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on the sections near or below the 5.74% average, settle just under threshold and let the gradient do the metering. Hold something in reserve for the steepest ramp toward 26.19%, where cadence will collapse and power spikes whether you want it to or not. If you don't know your threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the climb. Over 9.7 km and 558 m of gain, going two percent too deep in the first third is the difference between cresting strong at 747 m and crawling the final kilometres.

Gearing

Gearing is where the 26.19% max earns respect. The 5.74% average is manageable on standard compact gearing, but that steepest pitch is what dictates your setup. A 34×32 bottom gear is the sensible baseline for most riders tackling a climb of this length and gradient, giving you room to keep the cranks turning on the ramps. If you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude, or simply prefer to spin, a 34×34 buys extra insurance for the 26.19% section and protects your knees over the full 9.7 km. When in doubt, take the easier gear — you will not regret it near the summit.

Summary

Etxegarateko mendatea rewards riders who respect the gap between its friendly 5.74% average and its brutal 26.19% maximum. Pace conservatively, gear for the steepest ramp, and the 558 m of gain to 747 m becomes a satisfying category 2 tick rather than a survival slog.

Length: 9.7 km
Average gradient: 5.74%
Max gradient: 26.19%
Start: 189 m
Summit: 747 m
Net gain: 558 m
Total ascent: 528 m
Category: 2