- Ascent
- 2788 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 48.4 km
- max. gradient
- 10 %
- ø gradient
- 5.8 %
The Pico del Veleta from Granada is an HC climb of 48.4 km with 2,788 m of elevation gain at an average of 5.8 %, peaking at 10 %. The road climbs from Granada through the Sierra Nevada to 3,384 m, and the way back is the same road. No climb in our list finishes higher or has more elevation gain.
No climb in our list finishes higher or has more elevation gain than the Pico del Veleta. From Granada it is 48.4 kilometres and 2,788 metres of climbing up to 3,384 metres. That is more than twice the average of our list, which sits at around 1,200 metres. The gradient is moderate, the distance and the height are what make it hard.
The Pico del Veleta at a glance
The key figures from Granada: category HC, 48.4 km, 2,788 m of climbing, 5.8 % on average and 10 % at its steepest. The road leaves Granada, climbs into the Sierra Nevada and on past the ski area up to 3,384 m. Start and finish are both in Granada, so the way back is the same road. In our list the Veleta is the only climb in the Sierra Nevada region.
The climb from Granada
The first seven kilometres or so are barely a climb, the road rolls out of Granada almost flat. From about kilometre eight the real climb begins, and from there to the top the gradient mostly sits between 5 and 8 %. Twice along the way there are short flat or slightly downhill pieces, and a few kilometres stay at around 4 %. Otherwise it is one very long, steady effort.
The last ten kilometres average around 7.5 % and are the steepest part of the whole climb. They come at an altitude where every percent feels harder than in the valley. No kilometre on this final stretch goes above 9 %, but there are hardly any easier ones either. After more than 40 kilometres of climbing, this is where the day is decided.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
The Veleta leads our list on finishing height and elevation gain. Only the Colle del Nivolet is longer at 56.8 km, and the closest after that is the Col de l’Iséran at 47.4 km. The Iséran has 2,050 m of climbing, around 740 m less. On gradient the Veleta is in the lower field: 77 climbs are steeper on average than its 5.8 %, and 81 have a higher peak than its 10 %.
Practical tips
On the Veleta supplies matter more than gearing: plan food and drink for a climb of several hours. The temperature difference between Granada and 3,384 m is huge, so warm layers for the top and the long descent are essential. The last ten kilometres are the steepest and come in thin air, so save your strength for them. The way back to Granada is the same road, and the descent alone is almost 50 kilometres.
