La Bellida

Overview

La Bellida is a long, patient climb in Spain — 22.5 km from base to summit, gaining a net 913 m as the road lifts you from 347 m at the foot to 1260 m at the top. On paper the 4.05% average gradient reads gentle, and for stretches it genuinely is. But length is its own difficulty: a category 2 label understates how much time you'll spend turning the pedals here. Nearly an hour of sustained effort awaits even strong riders, and the climb hides a sting — a maximum pitch of 10.09% that arrives to break any rhythm you thought you'd settled into.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number, 4.05%, is an average spread across 22.5 km, and averages lie on climbs like this. The gap between the 4.05% mean and the 10.09% maximum tells you the road is uneven: shallow tempo sections that let you breathe, punctuated by steeper ramps that spike well above double the average. Total ascent comes to 926 m versus the 913 m net gain, and that small 13 m difference confirms there are brief downhill or flat kicks along the way — enough to interrupt momentum without offering real recovery. Expect to shift often. The climb rewards riders who read the road ahead rather than staring at the gradient under their front wheel.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The steady 4.05% average makes La Bellida an ideal effort to anchor to your FTP — hold a percentage of threshold you can sustain for the full 22.5 km rather than the first quarter. The danger is the 10.09% ramps: attack them too hard and you'll burn matches you desperately want back over the closing kilometres toward 1260 m. Ride the steep pitches a touch under your ceiling, then let the shallow sections carry you. If you're unsure what wattage that means for you, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you set out and pace to that figure the whole way up.

Gearing

The moderate average is deceptive — it's the combination of the 10.09% ramps and the sheer 22.5 km duration that dictates your setup. For most riders, a compact chainset paired with a wide cassette is the right call. A 34×32 will cover the steepest sections comfortably for anyone with reasonable climbing legs, letting you spin the ramps rather than grind them. If you tire on long efforts, prefer a higher cadence, or expect fatigue late in the 913 m of gain, size up to a 34×34 for a genuine bailout gear. Having that extra sprocket in reserve on a climb this long is insurance you'll be glad of near the summit.

Summary

La Bellida is a climb of endurance more than pure steepness — 22.5 km of near-constant work with just enough gradient variation to keep you honest. Pace it to threshold, gear for the steep pitches, and let the length do the rest.

Length: 22.5 km
Average gradient: 4.05%
Max gradient: 10.09%
Start: 347 m
Summit: 1260 m
Net gain: 913 m
Total ascent: 926 m
Category: 2