Lepoeder

Overview

Lepoeder is a Category 1 climb in Spain, running 13.8km from a start elevation of 639m to a summit at 1,433m. On paper it is a substantial ascent: a net elevation gain of 794m over its length, enough to place it firmly among the harder categorised climbs you will meet in a day's riding. The numbers describe a long, sustained effort rather than a short, sharp wall.

What the net figure does not tell you is the full cost. The total ascent on Lepoeder is 1,386m, nearly 600m more than the 794m net gain. That gap means the climb gives back roughly 592m of elevation along the way before clawing it back again. Every metre you descend on an "uphill" climb is a metre you have to reclimb, so the true vertical work is closer to 1,386m than to 794m. Plan your effort around the larger number.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.77% average gradient is a blend, not a constant. With almost 600m of hidden re-ascent, long stretches sit well below that average while others rear up considerably steeper to compensate. Do not trust the average to set your rhythm.

• Flatter or gently descending recovery sections where the road gives elevation back — use them, do not coast mindlessly.
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each one resetting your legs and your pace.
• A steepest ramp far above the average, where the gradient bites hardest and momentum from the flats matters most.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like Lepoeder, even-speed pacing will wreck you: holding a fixed speed forces enormous surges on the steep pitches. Aim instead for even effort, letting speed rise on the flatter sections and fall on the ramps while your sustainable power output stays roughly constant. The re-ascents are where riders blow up, so treat each steep kick as a controlled expense, not a race. If you do not yet know your ceiling, run the numbers through our FTP estimator before you commit to a target for the day.

Gearing

Gearing here is governed by the steepest ramps, not the average. On a 13.8km climb with pitches well above 5.77%, a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette will keep your cadence workable when the road stands up. A 34×32 is a sensible floor; 34×34 gives you more margin on the worst kicks and on tired legs late in the ascent. Check your chainrings and cassette before the ride — the summit is a poor place to discover you are over-geared.

Summary

• Length: 13.8 km
• Average gradient: 5.77%
• Maximum gradient: 23.56%
• Net elevation gain: 794 m
• Total ascent: 1,386 m
• Category: 1

Lepoeder is a Category 1 climb that asks more than its net gain suggests. Pace it by effort, gear for the steep ramps, and respect the 1,386m of true vertical work waiting between 639m and the summit at 1,433m.