http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-fa...ection-22.html

I just thought "I wonder how the Tour de France rate the climbs" and quickly found this link.

Interesting that it seems there is also an element of context, where a climb comes in the stage and how tough the stage has been.

I think the A/B/C & S/M/L system is a little rigid but a good guide. I also think it would be fair for experienced judges to look at a races rating under the rigid system and adjust, taking context in to account.

If you strip a few miles of the Pen-y-ghent - Ribblehead section out of the race it would be a AL.
By having the extra miles in it doesn't make the race any easier.

So although technically AL is not correct, I think the rating is appropriate.