Puerto de la Cañada del Horno

Overview

The Puerto de la Cañada del Horno is a Category 3 climb in Spain that runs for 8.4 km from a start elevation of 1430 m to a summit at 1769 m. Over that distance you gain 339 m of net elevation at an average gradient of 4.02%. It is a mid-mountain effort that starts high and finishes higher, so the air is thinner than the modest numbers suggest.

The total ascent is 389 m against a net gain of 339 m, a 50 m gap that tells you the road does not climb in a single clean line. That undulation means you will pedal back up ground you have already given away, so the effort is spikier than a flat 4.02% average implies. Expect the climbing to arrive in pulses rather than as one continuous drag.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.02% average is a blend, not a constant. With a maximum gradient of 9.78%, the steepest ramp is more than double the average, and those pitches will define how the climb feels. The 50 m of extra ascent over the net gain confirms the road rolls, mixing genuine climbing with short flatter or descending relief.

• Flatter, near-recovery sections where the gradient eases well below average
• Repeated short rises that reload the legs after each dip
• A steepest ramp near 9.78% that demands a shift and a change of rhythm

Pacing Notes

On a lightly undulating climb like this, chasing an even speed is a trap: you would over-spend on the 9.78% ramp and coast on the flats. Instead, hold an even effort anchored to your sustainable power output, letting speed rise on the shallow sections and fall on the steep ones while your effort stays flat. On the descents and flatter stretches, keep pedaling rather than freewheeling, since that recovered momentum carries into the next rise. If you are unsure what a repeatable effort looks like for you, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you set your target.

Gearing

The steepest pitch governs your gearing choice, and at 9.78% you want a bailout gear ready. A compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette such as 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a low enough ratio to spin the steep ramp without grinding at high altitude. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette and derailleur can actually reach that low sprocket, because discovering a missing gear on the 9.78% section is a fitness-limiting mistake, not a mechanical one.

Summary

• Length: 8.4 km
• Average gradient: 4.02%
• Maximum gradient: 9.78%
• Net elevation gain: 339 m
• Total ascent: 389 m
• Category: 3

The Puerto de la Cañada del Horno is a manageable Category 3 climb whose true character lives in its undulation and its single 9.78% ramp. Pace it by effort, keep the legs turning through the flatter relief, and carry a low enough gear, and the 339 m to the summit will come steadily.