Alto de la Tornería

Overview

The Alto de la Tornería is a category 2 climb that packs a genuine punch into a compact 7.4 km. From a low start at just 15 m above sea level, the road rises to a summit of 464 m, giving a net elevation gain of 449 m over the course of the ascent. The average gradient of 6.08% sounds civil enough on paper, but that figure hides the real character of the climb: a max pitch of 20.55% that will have you out of the saddle and grinding. With a total ascent of 426 m recorded across its length, this is a climb of steady, honest effort punctuated by moments of real severity.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story here is one of contrast. A 6.08% average across 7.4 km is the kind of number you can settle into, but the gap between that average and the 20.55% maximum tells you the climb is far from uniform. Expect stretches that sit close to the average, where you can find a rhythm, interrupted by sharp ramps that spike well into the double digits. The difference between the 449 m net gain and the 426 m total ascent is small, which confirms this is a climb that goes up and keeps going up — there is very little false-flat or descent to break the effort. Ride it expecting your legs to carry the load steadily, then brace for the steep kicks that define the day.

Pacing Notes

The smart approach is to hold a controlled, sustainable effort on the shallower sections and preserve your matches for the steep ramps. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: on a 7.4 km climb at 6.08% average, riding just below threshold on the steady portions leaves headroom to absorb that 20.55% wall without blowing up. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you ride so you have a concrete target rather than guessing. The danger on a climb like this is overcooking the opening slopes and arriving at the steepest pitch already deep in the red. Ride within yourself early, and the 449 m of climbing will reward patience.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With a maximum of 20.55%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline for most riders — it gives you a bailout ratio for the steep ramps while keeping cadence honest on the 6.08% average sections. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance against that 20.55% pitch, step up to a 34×34. The extra sprockets cost nothing on the shallower gradients and can save your day when the road stands up.

Summary

Short, sharp and honest, the Alto de la Tornería rewards riders who respect its steepest gradient and pace the rest with discipline. It is a category 2 test that feels harder than its average suggests.

Length: 7.4 km
Average gradient: 6.08%
Max gradient: 20.55%
Start: 15 m
Summit: 464 m
Net gain: 449 m
Total ascent: 426 m
Category: 2