Abarrakuko lepoa

Overview

Abarrakuko lepoa is a 13 km category 2 ascent that carries you from a valley floor at 273 m up to a summit of 944 m. That works out to 671 m of net elevation gain, with the total ascent nudging slightly higher at 684 m — a sign that the road isn't perfectly monotonic and gives back a handful of metres along the way. At 5.17% average gradient, it sits firmly in the sustainable-tempo bracket: long enough to demand a plan, but never so brutal that survival becomes the only goal. The headline number to respect is the 11.28% maximum, a ramp steep enough to break a rhythm if you hit it in the wrong gear.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the shape becomes clear. A 5.17% average over 13 km with a peak of 11.28% means the steepest pitch is more than double the mean — this is not a metronomic wall but an undulating haul. The 13 m gap between net gain (671 m) and total ascent (684 m) confirms there are short descents or flatter shelves folded into the climb, brief moments where you roll rather than grind. Expect the effort to arrive in waves: stretches near or below the 5.17% average where you can settle, punctuated by ramps building toward that 11.28% spike. The summit at 944 m is the payoff for holding composure across all 13 kilometres.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is moderate but the maximum is steep, pace to the mean, not the ramps. Aim to hold a steady effort at or just below your FTP on the sustained 5.17% sections, and accept that the pitches toward 11.28% will briefly push you over — that's fine, provided you recover on the shallower shelves. Riders who blow the early kilometres chasing a low time rarely hold it across the full 13 km. If you're unsure where your sustainable ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan a target. Meter the 671 m of climbing evenly and you'll arrive at 944 m with something left; over-cook the first third and the back end feels far longer than it is.

Gearing

For a 13 km climb averaging 5.17% with an 11.28% maximum, prioritise a bailout gear that keeps your cadence up on the steep pitches. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette combination is a sensible baseline for strong climbers, giving enough range to spin the ramps without grinding. If you favour a higher cadence, carry a lighter setup and go with 34×34 — the extra tooth is cheap insurance across 671 m of gain and makes the 11.28% sections far more manageable. Either 34×32 or 34×34 will get you up comfortably; choose based on your weight, fitness, and how fresh your legs are.

Summary

Abarrakuko lepoa rewards discipline: a steady 5.17% average, a genuine 11.28% sting, and 671 m of vertical to the 944 m summit. Pace it to the mean, gear for the ramps, and 13 km of climbing becomes a satisfying tempo effort rather than a fight.

Length: 13 km
Average gradient: 5.17%
Max gradient: 11.28%
Start: 273 m
Summit: 944 m
Net gain: 671 m
Total ascent: 684 m
Category: 2