Alto de la Triguera

Overview

Alto de la Triguera is a hors catégorie climb, the hardest rung on the classification ladder, and its numbers explain why. Over 17.6 km the road averages 7.1%, lifting you from a start elevation of 227 m to a summit at 1479 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1252 m and a total ascent of 1249 m — figures so close that the climb barely relents, offering almost no descending or false-flat recovery between bottom and top. A sustained pitch touching 17.08% at its steepest confirms this is a climb of endurance first and raw power second.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait here is consistency at a brutal level. With an average of 7.1% held across the full 17.6 km, there is no easy half to hide in — the difficulty is spread from the 227 m base all the way to the 1479 m crest. The 3 m gap between the 1252 m net gain and the 1249 m total ascent tells you the road climbs almost continuously, so the average you see is close to the average you feel. The 17.08% maximum is where things bite: a ramp nearly two and a half times the mean gradient that will spike your effort well beyond a steady tempo. Treat those steep sections as the deciding moments and everything between them as ground to be ridden efficiently.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of this length, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the urge to attack the lower slopes — you have 1252 m of vertical to give away before the summit. Riding the 7.1% average at a controlled, repeatable power is the surest way to reach 1479 m without blowing apart. Save headroom for the 17.08% ramp, where holding the same power means grinding a much lower cadence. If you are unsure what number to target, run your figures through the FTP estimator before you commit to a plan, then hold that ceiling for the full 17.6 km rather than chasing it early.

Gearing

Nearly 1250 m of climbing at 7.1% is exactly the scenario compact gearing exists for. A 34×32 is the sensible baseline for strong climbers who can spin a steady tempo, but the 17.08% pitch is where that ratio starts to feel harsh. If you weigh the balance toward survival over the full 17.6 km, a 34×34 buys you the extra cadence to keep the pedals turning through the steepest ramp without lurching into a grind. Given the relentless profile from 227 m to 1479 m, err toward the easier option — you will rarely regret a spare cog on an HC climb.

Summary

Alto de la Triguera is a genuine hors catégorie test: long, steep and unrelenting from base to summit. Pace it to your FTP, gear for the 17.08% wall, and respect the full 17.6 km rather than the first few.

Length: 17.6 km
Average gradient: 7.1%
Max gradient: 17.08%
Start: 227 m
Summit: 1479 m
Net gain: 1252 m
Total ascent: 1249 m
Category: HC