Collado del Hitón

Overview

Collado del Hitón is a long, patient category 1 climb that rewards discipline over aggression. Over 27 km the road lifts you from 192 m to a summit of 1498 m, a net elevation gain of 1306 m across a total ascent of 1286 m. Those two figures being close tells you something useful: this is a mostly relentless drag upward, with little in the way of descending relief to break the effort. The average gradient of 4.84% sounds friendly, but averages flatter the truth here — 27 km is a long time to hold any rhythm, and a maximum pitch of 17.1% lurks to punish anyone who has spent their matches too early.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With 1306 m of net gain spread over 27 km, the arithmetic gives that gentle 4.84% mean — but a climb this shape is rarely uniform. The gap between the 17.1% maximum and the 4.84% average is where the character lives. Expect long ramps that sit comfortably below the mean, lulling you into a steady tempo, punctuated by sharper kicks that briefly spike toward that 17.1% wall. Because the total ascent (1286 m) sits just under the net gain (1306 m), there is almost no false-flat recovery baked into the profile. You climb, and you keep climbing. The steepest sections are where cadence collapses and where a poorly chosen gear turns a manageable effort into a muscular struggle.

Pacing Notes

On a 27 km climb, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just beneath threshold for the shallower kilometres, leaving headroom for the pitches that surge toward 17.1%. If you do not know your threshold with confidence, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target — guessing high on a climb this long is how riders blow up two-thirds of the way to the 1498 m summit. Treat the 4.84% average as your baseline power, then spend a little above it on the steep ramps and settle back down when the road eases. The goal is an even distribution of effort across all 1306 m of gain, not a heroic first half.

Gearing

Gear for the maximum, not the average. A 17.1% pitch late in a 27 km climb, with 1306 m already in your legs, demands a wide range at the back. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is a sensible starting point for strong climbers, but most riders will be grateful for a 34×34 to keep cadence up and knees happy when the road bites. If your fitness or the day is against you, err toward the easier 34×34 — spinning a low gear costs nothing and preserves your ability to keep turning the pedals all the way to 1498 m.

Summary

Collado del Hitón is a test of patience and pacing: 27 km, a deceptively mild 4.84% average, and a 17.1% sting that keeps you honest. Respect the distance, gear generously, and meter your effort from the 192 m start to the 1498 m top.

Length: 27 km
Average gradient: 4.84%
Max gradient: 17.1%
Start: 192 m
Summit: 1498 m
Net gain: 1306 m
Total ascent: 1286 m
Category: 1