Lizarrusti

Overview

Lizarrusti is a category 3 climb in Spain, running 6.8 km from a start elevation of 288 m to a summit at 639 m. The net elevation gain over that distance is 351 m, which sets its official average gradient at 5.14%. On paper that reads as a steady mid-tier climb, the kind of ascent that rewards a rider who can hold a rhythm rather than one who needs a single explosive effort.

The number that changes the picture is total ascent: 719 m, against a net gain of just 351 m. That 368 m difference is climbing you do and then give back, meaning the road undulates rather than rising cleanly. Every metre of descent inside the climb is a metre you have to re-earn, so the true muscular cost is roughly double what the net figure suggests. Treat Lizarrusti as a longer, harder effort than its category and average gradient imply.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.14% average is a blend of downhill, flat, and steep, so almost no section of road actually sits at that number. With a maximum gradient of 16.33%, the hard pitches are more than three times the average, and they are where the climb is won or lost. Expect the profile to swing between recovery and real strain rather than settling into a groove.

• Flatter or descending sections that let you recover but cost momentum
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, driving the 719 m of total ascent
• A steepest ramp reaching 16.33% that forces you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed means over-pushing on the 16.33% ramps and coasting on the descents, which spikes your heart rate and empties the tank early. Instead, anchor your effort to a sustainable power output and hold that target through the steep pitches, accepting that your speed will drop. Let the flatter and downhill sections be genuine recovery. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you ride so your target is grounded in data, not guesswork.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your setup, and 16.33% demands low gearing. Fit a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette so you have a 34×32 or 34×34 bailout for the hardest ramps. That range keeps your cadence up and your legs fresh for the repeated climbs rather than grinding each one. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride, not at the base of the steepest pitch.

Summary

• Length: 6.8 km
• Average gradient: 5.14%
• Maximum gradient: 16.33%
• Net elevation gain: 351 m
• Total ascent: 719 m
• Category: 3

Lizarrusti rewards riders who respect the gap between its net gain and total ascent. Pace to power, gear low for the ramps, and the undulation becomes manageable rather than punishing.