Gollada de los Horneros

Overview

The Gollada de los Horneros is a category 2 climb that asks a real question of your legs without ever tipping into the brutality of the highest-tier ascents. Over 13.4 km it lifts you from a start elevation of just 6 m to a summit at 731 m, a net gain of 725 m. The average gradient reads 5.39%, which on paper sounds forgiving, but that number hides a max pitch of 15.11% waiting somewhere along the way. This is a climb of rhythm and patience: long enough to matter, steep enough in places to punish anyone who starts too hard.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 5.39% average spread across 13.4 km, the Horneros is not a wall — it is a sustained effort that rewards a consistent tempo. The gap between the 5.39% average and the 15.11% maximum tells you the road is uneven: expect the grade to sag toward the average on the flatter drags and then bite hard on the steep ramps. Note too that the total ascent of 705 m sits just below the 725 m net gain, meaning the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with very little descending relief to break the effort. There is nowhere to truly recover, so the smart approach is to bank nothing and simply hold your line as the gradient swings between the gentle and the severe.

Pacing Notes

Pace this climb off your sustainable power, not your ego. Because the average is a moderate 5.39% but the peaks reach 15.11%, the trap is going too deep on the steep sections and blowing your effort with kilometres still to climb. Aim to ride the flatter stretches just under your FTP and allow yourself to nudge above it only briefly on the sharpest ramps, settling back down as soon as the road eases. If you are unsure what number to target across a 13.4 km effort, run your figures through the FTP estimator first and build your pacing plan around a threshold you can actually hold. Over 725 m of net climbing, discipline in the first half buys you the legs to hold form near the 731 m summit.

Gearing

For a 13.4 km climb averaging 5.39% with spikes to 15.11%, gearing is your friend. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the sensible baseline. Pair it with a 34×32 for most riders — that combination lets you spin the steady middle grades without grinding. If you weigh more, are less climbing-fit, or simply want insurance for the 15.11% ramps, drop to a 34×34 and keep your cadence up rather than muscling the pedals. On a climb this length, protecting your knees and your reserves with an easier gear is always the wiser call.

Summary

The Gollada de los Horneros is a rewarding category 2 test: long, steady, and honest, with just enough steepness to keep you focused from the 6 m start to the 731 m top. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and it will give back a satisfying summit.

Length: 13.4 km
Average gradient: 5.39%
Max gradient: 15.11%
Start: 6 m
Summit: 731 m
Net gain: 725 m
Total ascent: 705 m
Category: 2