Alto de la Capellanía

Alto de la Capellanía cycling climb profile

Alto de la Capellanía is a compact category 4 climb: 1 km in length, with an average gradient of 6.46%, starting at 47 m and topping out at 114 m. On paper, that makes it a short, controlled effort rather than a climb that demands a long threshold-level grind.

The important point is duration. At 1 km, the climb is short enough that a strong rider can ride it above steady endurance pace, but the 6.46% average is still enough to punish a sloppy opening. If you hit the bottom too hard, there is not much distance available to recover before the summit. The fastest way up is likely not a full sprint from the base, but a firm, even acceleration that keeps pressure on the pedals without forcing repeated surges.

How the gradient should feel

The available profile gives an average gradient of 6.46% across the full 1 km. That suggests a climb that sits in the uncomfortable middle ground: not long enough to settle into a pure climbing rhythm, but steep enough that aerodynamic speed matters less than torque control and pacing.

There is also a data-quality issue worth noting. The listed max gradient is 4.48%, which is lower than the listed average gradient of 6.46%. The listed total ascent is 39 m, while the start and summit elevations imply a net rise from 47 m to 114 m. Because those fields conflict, the safest practical read is to treat the climb as a short hill defined by its length, category, average gradient, and elevation endpoints, rather than relying on the max-gradient figure to describe a steepest ramp.

Pacing and gearing

Ride this like a hard, measured effort. The climb is short, but the average gradient means momentum will fade quickly if you arrive over-geared. Shift before the slope loads up, keep cadence sustainable, and avoid standing too early unless you are deliberately making a final push.

A good pacing model is simple:

• Start controlled for the opening section, keeping breathing just below the point of panic.
• Build through the middle once cadence is stable.
• Empty the tank only when the summit is clearly within reach.

For training, Alto de la Capellanía fits well as a repeatable short-climb effort: hard enough to test punch and torque, but short enough that pacing errors are immediately obvious. Riders using /glossary/ftp as an anchor should think of it less as a steady FTP climb and more as a compact effort where restraint in the first half determines how much speed is left at the top.