Alto de la Espina

Overview

Alto de la Espina is a category 1 climb that packs a serious punch into just 9 km. From a start elevation of 207 m to a summit of 856 m, it delivers 649 m of net elevation gain and 660 m of total ascent — the small gap between those two figures tells you this is a climb that keeps pointing upward, with almost no respite or false descents to break the effort. The average gradient of 7.19% puts it firmly in the "sustained and relentless" bracket rather than the "steady tempo" one. This is a climb you settle into for the long haul, not one you attack.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 7.19% average, but averages hide the story. With a max gradient of 12.97%, there are ramps here that are close to double the average, and those are the sections that will define your day. Because total ascent (660 m) sits only 11 m above the net gain (649 m), you know the road barely gives anything back — there are no descents to recover on. Expect long stretches hovering around the 7% mark, punctuated by steeper pitches that drag toward 13%. The best way to read this profile is as a consistent grind with sharp teeth: sustained enough to fatigue you, steep enough in places to hurt.

Pacing Notes

On a climb averaging 7.19% over 9 km, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to ride the sustained sections just under threshold, holding a little in reserve for the ramps toward 12.97%. If you overcook the early kilometres, the back half will punish you long before the summit at 856 m. If you don't know your threshold number yet, run it through the FTP estimator first, then set a target power you can genuinely hold for the full climb. The goal is to reach the top having spent evenly — not to blow apart at the first steep pitch.

Gearing

With 649 m of gain crammed into 9 km and pitches touching 12.97%, gearing matters. For most riders, a compact chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible choice. A 34×32 will get many trained riders up the sustained 7.19% sections at a workable cadence, but on the steepest ramps you'll be grinding. If you weigh more, ride at a lower fitness level, or simply prefer to spin, a 34×34 buys you meaningful headroom on those 13% pitches and helps protect your knees over the full climb. When in doubt on a category 1 effort like this, err toward the easier gear — you can always stay seated and comfortable rather than forcing a mash you can't sustain.

Summary

Alto de la Espina is a compact but genuinely hard category 1 climb: 9 km of near-continuous ascent at 7.19%, with a sting in the ramps and no recovery to speak of. Pace it to your threshold, gear it generously, and respect the 12.97% pitches.

Length: 9 km
Average gradient: 7.19%
Max gradient: 12.97%
Start: 207 m
Summit: 856 m
Net gain: 649 m
Total ascent: 660 m
Category: 1