Portillo del Lobo

Overview

Portillo del Lobo is a category 3 climb that packs a genuine bite into a compact 6.7 km. It begins at 582 m and tops out at 945 m, a net gain of 363 m at an average gradient of 5.46%. On paper that average reads as a moderate, sustainable effort — the kind of slope you can settle into and turn over. But the average hides the real story, because a maximum pitch of 14.53% means the road is far from uniform. This is a climb of contrasts: long stretches where you can breathe and hold tempo, broken by ramps steep enough to force you out of the saddle and into your lowest gears.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With 363 m of net gain but only 339 m of total ascent recorded, Portillo del Lobo climbs almost relentlessly upward, with little in the way of descending relief along the way. What defines its character is the gap between the 5.46% average and the 14.53% maximum. That spread of roughly 9% between the mean and the steepest pitch tells you the difficulty is concentrated rather than spread evenly. Expect softer gradients where you can recover, punctuated by short walls that spike well into double digits. Reading the road ahead matters here: carry momentum into the ramps and you will save yourself from grinding to a crawl. Over just 6.7 km, the climb never gives you long enough to fully settle before the next steep section arrives.

Pacing Notes

The trap on a climb like this is burning matches on the steep ramps and blowing past your sustainable ceiling. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on the 5.46% sections, ride just below threshold so you have headroom for the 14.53% pitches, where power naturally surges. Let the gradient do the pacing — spin the flatter ramps and absorb the steep ones with a controlled over-effort rather than a panic. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle it, then set a target you can hold across the full 363 m of climbing. With only 6.7 km to cover, a slightly conservative first half leaves you fresh enough to attack the upper ramps.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 5.46% but spiking to 14.53%, gearing is about survival on the walls, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front end. Pair it with a 34×32 setup if you have strong legs and want to keep a punchy cadence on the steep pitches. If you prefer to spin and protect your knees over the 363 m of ascent — or you are riding tired — go for the 34×34, which gives you a true bailout gear for the 14.53% ramps. Either way, prioritize a low enough gear that you can stay seated and rhythmic rather than lurching at the pedals.

Summary

Portillo del Lobo rewards riders who respect the gap between its gentle average and its sharp maximum. Pace to your threshold, gear low enough for the walls, and 6.7 km of climbing becomes a satisfying rhythm rather than a battle.

Length: 6.7 km
Average gradient: 5.46%
Max gradient: 14.53%
Start: 582 m
Summit: 945 m
Net gain: 363 m
Total ascent: 339 m
Category: 3