Port d'Albaida

Overview

Port d'Albaida is a long, even-tempered climb that rewards patience over aggression. Over 10.6 km it lifts you from a starting elevation of 206 m to a summit of 611 m, a net gain of 405 m. The average gradient sits at a friendly 3.81%, and the steepest pitch tops out at just 5.89%, which places this firmly in category 3 territory — a genuine climb, but one that never forces you into the red if you ride it sensibly.

What makes Albaida distinctive is its consistency. There is no wall to survive and no false summit to break your spirit. Instead you settle into a rhythm and hold it, letting the kilometres tick by at a sustainable output. For riders building endurance or hunting a repeatable tempo effort, it is close to ideal.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The numbers tell a clean story. With an average of 3.81% and a maximum of only 5.89%, the spread between typical and hardest is narrow — barely more than two percentage points. That means the climb rarely surprises you.

Note also that the net elevation gain of 405 m is slightly larger than the total ascent of 365 m. That gap of 40 m signals a road that climbs almost continuously, with very little descending or flat give-back along the way. In practical terms, you are always going up, but never steeply. The gradient breathes gently around its 3.81% mean rather than spiking, so momentum you build early carries through the middle kilometres.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient is so uniform, Albaida is best ridden as a single sustained effort. Pick a power target you can hold for the full 10.6 km and lock into it. A strong reference is your FTP — for a climb of this length, most riders can comfortably sit just below threshold for the duration, treating the whole ascent as one long tempo-to-sweetspot block.

If you do not know your threshold yet, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort. With a reliable figure in hand, you can convert the 3.81% average into a target you will actually hold, rather than starting too hard on the lower slopes and fading before the 611 m summit. On a climb this steady, even pacing beats heroics every time.

Gearing

You do not need extreme gearing here. With a maximum of 5.89% and an average under 4%, a standard compact setup is more than adequate. A 34×32 lowest ratio gives most riders plenty of range to spin the steeper pitches while staying seated and relaxed.

If you are carrying fatigue, riding at altitude, or simply prefer a higher cadence on long efforts, a 34×34 adds a touch more comfort without any downside. Either choice lets you keep your legs turning smoothly across all 10.6 km, which is exactly what a consistent gradient like this asks for.

Summary

Port d'Albaida is a long, forgiving climb defined by its consistency: a gentle average, a modest maximum, and a summit earned through steady effort rather than brute force. Ride it at an even tempo, gear for comfort, and enjoy the rhythm.

Length: 10.6 km
Average gradient: 3.81%
Max gradient: 5.89%
Start: 206 m
Summit: 611 m
Net gain: 405 m
Total ascent: 365 m
Category: 3