Collado de Puerto Infante

Overview

Collado de Puerto Infante is a Category 3 climb in Spain, running 7.8 km from a valley start to its summit. It gains 333 m of net elevation over that distance, rising from a start elevation of 1138 m to a summit of 1471 m. The average gradient of 4.27% marks it as a moderate ascent on paper, the kind of climb that rewards steady rhythm over brute force.

That paper figure hides something important. The climb accumulates 524 m of total ascent to deliver only 333 m of net gain — a 191 m gap. That means roughly 191 m of descending and re-climbing is folded into the route. This is a rolling, undulating climb rather than a clean uphill drag. Every metre you give back on a false descent is a metre you have to earn again, so the real effort is higher than the 4.27% average suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.27% average is a blend of near-flat sections, short descents, and sharper ramps. With a maximum gradient of 13.79%, the steepest pitches are more than three times the average — these are the moments that spike your power and heart rate. The undulation means the road repeatedly tips down and back up, so you rarely settle into one sustained gradient.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly descends — use these to spin and recover.
• Repeated short climbs that stack up as you regain the elevation lost on the false flats and descents.
• The steepest ramp near 13.79%, a short, sharp effort that demands a gear in reserve and a controlled surge.

Pacing Notes

On a rolling climb like this, even-speed pacing is a trap: holding a constant speed forces you to overshoot your limit on the steep ramps and coast on the descents. Aim instead for even effort. Keep your sustainable power output roughly constant, letting speed rise on the flatter sections and fall on the 13.79% ramps rather than fighting to hold a number.

If you don't know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go, then ride the ramps just under threshold and use the recovery sections to bring your average effort back down.

Gearing

The 13.79% maximum is what should govern your gearing choice, not the gentle average. On a short, steep ramp like that, an under-geared setup forces you to grind at low cadence and burn matches you'll want later. Run a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you the spin to stay seated and controlled on the steepest pitch. Check your setup before the ride; swapping a cassette in the car park is not an option.

Summary

• Length: 7.8 km
• Average gradient: 4.27%
• Maximum gradient: 13.79%
• Net elevation gain: 333 m
• Total ascent: 524 m
• Category: 3

Collado de Puerto Infante is easy to underrate from its average alone. Respect the undulation, pace it by effort, and carry a low enough gear for the steep ramps, and its Category 3 rating will feel fair rather than generous.