Alto de Ceroulas

Overview

Alto de Ceroulas is a category 2 climb that packs a genuine punch into a compact 6.3 km. From a low start at just 46 m of elevation, the road works its way up to a summit at 463 m, delivering a net gain of 417 m along the way. The average gradient of 6.62% tells you this is no false-flat drag — it is a sustained, honest climb that asks for consistent effort from bottom to top, with the steepest ramp tilting to 8.9%.

At category 2, Ceroulas sits comfortably in the middle of the difficulty scale (below the HC and category 1 monsters, but well above the gentler 3s and 4s). That means it is hard enough to reshape a ride, yet short enough to attack rather than merely survive.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 6.62% average, but averages hide the texture. Across 6.3 km, the climb records a total ascent of 391 m — slightly less than the 417 m net gain, which tells you the road runs almost entirely uphill with barely a breather or descent to interrupt the rhythm.

The gradient peaks at 8.9%, so the difference between the average and the max is only a couple of percentage points. That narrow spread is the defining feature of Ceroulas: it is relentlessly even rather than explosively spiky. Expect long stretches hovering near the average, punctuated by that stiffer 8.9% pitch where you shift down and hold form rather than blow yourself apart.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient is so consistent, Ceroulas rewards a steady, threshold-style effort over reckless surges. Aim to settle just under or around your FTP and hold it — the even 6.62% average makes this one of the easier climbs to pace to a target power number.

If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your ride. On a 6.3 km effort, a well-judged pace at threshold will feel controlled through the first half, letting you press slightly harder over the 8.9% ramp and into the final drag toward the 463 m summit. Riders who go out too hard on the lower slopes pay for it dearly, since there is no recovery gradient to bail them out.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 6.62% with pitches to 8.9%, most riders will want a compact setup with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 will get strong climbers up comfortably, keeping cadence high through the steeper section without grinding. If you carry extra weight, ride at endurance pace, or simply prefer to spin, a 34×34 gives you that extra sprocket of insurance for the 8.9% pitch and the sustained middle of the climb. Either way, prioritise a low bailout gear over a tight ratio — the even gradient means you will be turning the same gear for minutes at a time.

Summary

Alto de Ceroulas is a tidy, well-mannered category 2 test: short, steep enough to matter, and evenly graded enough to pace cleanly. Get your gearing and threshold right and it is a climb you can genuinely enjoy.

Length: 6.3 km
Average gradient: 6.62%
Max gradient: 8.9%
Start: 46 m
Summit: 463 m
Net gain: 417 m
Total ascent: 391 m
Category: 2