Alto de Penouta

Overview

Alto de Penouta is a category 2 ascent that runs for 10.9 km, starting almost at sea level at 7 m and topping out at 492 m. That gives a summit that sits 485 m above the foot of the climb, with a measured total ascent of 456 m across the length. On paper the average gradient of 4.46% reads as gentle, and for long stretches it is — this is a climb you can settle into rather than one that punches you off the bike in the first kilometre. But the 9.43% maximum tells you the road does not stay polite the whole way up, and knowing where to spend your effort matters more here than raw power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 4.46% average and the 9.43% maximum is the whole story of this climb. A steady 4.46% for 10.9 km would be a rhythm climb, the sort you can turn a big gear on and breathe through your nose. Instead, the ascent hides its difficulty: the average is pulled down by shallower ramps and false-flat sections, which means the steeper pitches must run well above that number to balance out. When the road bites toward its 9.43% max, it more than doubles the average slope. Expect the profile to breathe in and out — easy drags where you recover, then sharper kicks where the grade jumps and your cadence drops. The net gain of 485 m against a total ascent of 456 m confirms it climbs almost continuously, with little in the way of descending to give the legs a free reset.

Pacing Notes

The trap on Alto de Penouta is riding the steep ramps like they are the average. Anchor your effort to your FTP rather than to how the road feels moment to moment. On the shallow 4.46%-ish sections, sit just below threshold and let the gradient do little to your heart rate. When the slope rears toward 9.43%, allow a controlled surge — but keep it brief, and back off the instant the road eases so you are not paying threshold interest across a false flat. If you do not know your numbers yet, run them through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. Over 10.9 km, small over-efforts compound; the rider who arrives at 492 m freshest is the one who refused to chase the steep bits.

Gearing

With a 9.43% maximum on a category 2 climb, you want a bailout gear even though the 4.46% average is modest. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette covers most riders comfortably, giving you a spinnable ratio when the road kicks up. If you climb at lower cadence, favour endurance over punch, or expect to be fatigued by the time the steep ramps arrive, size up to 34×34 for extra margin. Neither is overkill here — the shallow average means you will spend plenty of time in the middle of the block, and the low gears exist purely so the 9.43% pitches never force you out of the saddle before you choose to be.

Summary

Alto de Penouta rewards a patient, evenly paced ride: soft-pedal the shallow drags, respect the steep kicks, and let the 4.46% average carry you toward the 492 m summit. Bring a low gear for the 9.43% ramps and you will top out with something left.

Length: 10.9 km
Average gradient: 4.46%
Max gradient: 9.43%
Start: 7 m
Summit: 492 m
Net gain: 485 m
Total ascent: 456 m
Category: 2