Alto do Pousadoiro

Overview

Alto do Pousadoiro is a category 2 climb that packs a genuine test into a compact 5.8 km. From a low start at just 10 m of elevation, the road lifts you to a summit of 372 m, a net gain of 362 m over the effort. The average gradient sits at 6.27%, which is firmly in the range where you can't quite settle into a comfortable rhythm and where a strong ride demands discipline. With a maximum pitch of 10.79%, there is enough spike here to punish anyone who starts too hard, but not so much that it becomes a pure survival grind. It is, in short, a climb that rewards steady judgment over raw aggression.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to internalise is the gap between the 6.27% average and the 10.79% maximum. That spread of roughly 4.5 percentage points tells you the climb is not uniform: there are stretches noticeably steeper than the average, which means there must be gentler sections balancing them out. Recorded total ascent comes to 346 m against a net gain of 362 m, and the closeness of those two figures confirms the road climbs almost continuously, with very little downhill or false-flat relief along the 5.8 km. Expect the effort to feel relentless rather than punchy. When the gradient nudges toward that 10.79% ceiling, resist the urge to surge; those ramps are where a well-paced rider quietly gains time on a reckless one.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride Alto do Pousadoiro is to treat the 6.27% average as your anchor and hold a consistent power output the whole way up. A steady climb of 5.8 km at this gradient is best paced just under or right around your FTP, letting the steeper ramps push you briefly above threshold before the shallower sections let you recover. If you don't know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator first and pace against that figure rather than guessing by feel. The goal is to arrive at the 372 m summit having spread your effort evenly, not having blown apart on the 10.79% pitches with a kilometre still to climb.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 6.27% with ramps to 10.79%, a compact setup gives you the range to keep your cadence high without grinding. A 34×32 lowest gear is enough for most fit riders to spin the steeper sections of these 5.8 km comfortably. If you carry extra weight, ride tired, or simply prefer to protect your knees on the 10.79% pitches, step up to a 34×34 for that bit of extra insurance. Either way, the priority is preserving cadence over the full 362 m of climbing rather than muscling a big gear.

Summary

Alto do Pousadoiro is a well-balanced category 2 effort: long enough to matter at 5.8 km, steep enough to demand respect at 10.79% max, but paced sensibly around its 6.27% average it is very much a climb you can ride within yourself. Anchor your power, gear appropriately, and let the summit come to you.

Length: 5.8 km
Average gradient: 6.27%
Max gradient: 10.79%
Start: 10 m
Summit: 372 m
Net gain: 362 m
Total ascent: 346 m
Category: 2