Azpegiko lepoa

Overview

Azpegiko lepoa is a long, steady category 1 climb that rewards patience over aggression. Over 15.2 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 227 m to a summit of 1051 m, a net gain of 824 m. The average gradient sits at 5.43%, which reads as moderate on paper but stretches into a serious effort once you factor in the sheer distance. This is not a climb you attack; it is one you settle into, find a rhythm on, and hold together all the way to the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to respect is the length: 15.2 km of continuous uphill. At 5.43% average, the ascent is honest and sustained rather than explosive, but the total ascent of 808 m — slightly less than the 824 m net gain, hinting at brief flatter or descending sections that let the road breathe — means the effort accumulates relentlessly. Where the climb bites is its steepest ramp of 11.09%, more than double the average. Those pitches are where riders who went out too hard begin to unravel. Expect the gradient to ebb and flow around the 5.43% mean: stretches that feel manageable, punctuated by sharper kicks that demand a gear in reserve.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline decides everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below threshold for the bulk of the 15.2 km, saving headroom for the 11.09% ramps rather than burning matches early. If you do not know your threshold power, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so your target wattage is grounded in data, not guesswork. A useful rule: the first third of the climb should feel almost too easy. With 824 m still to gain from the bottom, restraint early pays dividends when the steep sections arrive. Let the steeper pitches push your effort up briefly, then settle back to your sustainable number as the road eases.

Gearing

For a 15.2 km climb averaging 5.43% with ramps to 11.09%, prioritise a wide, forgiving range so you can keep cadence up on the steep sections. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is a sensible baseline for strong climbers who can turn a decent cadence on the 11.09% pitches. If you weigh more, are riding tired, or simply want to protect your legs across all 824 m of climbing, step up to 34×34 for extra insurance. Spinning a lighter gear at higher cadence will almost always beat grinding a heavy one over a climb this sustained.

Summary

Azpegiko lepoa is a rhythm climb defined by its length and consistency rather than dramatic slopes. Pace it below threshold, respect the 11.09% ramps, and gear generously — and its 824 m of climbing becomes a satisfying, steady ascent to the 1051 m summit.

Length: 15.2 km
Average gradient: 5.43%
Max gradient: 11.09%
Start: 227 m
Summit: 1051 m
Net gain: 824 m
Total ascent: 808 m
Category: 1