Portillo del Ocejo

Overview

Portillo del Ocejo is a Category 1 climb that asks for patience and respect in equal measure. Over 11.4 km it averages 6.18%, lifting you from a start elevation of 339 m to a 1041 m summit. That is a net gain of 702 m of altitude, with 687 m of total ascent recorded along the way — the small difference between those two figures tells you the road is almost relentlessly upward, with barely any respite to give back what you have earned.

At more than 11 km long with a category rating of 1 (the tier just below the hardest, HC), this is a genuine mountain effort. It is long enough that a bad first half leaves you nothing for the top, yet steep enough on average that you cannot simply spin your way to the summit.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 6.18% describes a climb that is consistently demanding rather than merely rolling. But averages hide the teeth: the maximum gradient hits 16.73%, more than two and a half times the average. Those ramps are where races are won and where under-geared riders come undone.

Because the total ascent of 687 m sits just below the 702 m net gain, there is essentially no downhill relief inside the climb. What goes up stays up. Expect the gradient to hover around and above 6% for long stretches, punctuated by pitches that spike toward that 16.73% ceiling. Read the road ahead and stay seated where you can, because every wasted match on the shallow sections is one you will crave when the wall arrives.

Pacing Notes

The single most useful number for pacing a climb this long is your FTP. At 11.4 km, you are looking at a sustained effort well beyond a short punchy climb, so ride the shallower gradients a touch below threshold and let the 16.73% ramps push you over it briefly rather than trying to hold a flat power line across terrain that refuses to stay flat.

If you do not yet know your threshold, run your recent data through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. Aim to crest the 1041 m summit having spent evenly, not having blown apart on the first steep pitch. Banking time early on a 702 m climb rarely pays off.

Gearing

Given the 6.18% average stretched over 11.4 km, and especially the 16.73% maximum, gear conservatively. A compact 34-tooth inner ring is the sensible starting point. Pair it with at least a 34×32 for most riders — that low ratio keeps your cadence civilised on the steady sections. If you tend to grind, or you are tackling this late in a long day, step up to 34×34 so those steepest ramps stay a matter of rhythm rather than survival. Easier gearing costs you nothing on the flat and buys you everything at 16.73%.

Summary

Portillo del Ocejo is a long, honest Category 1 climb: 11.4 km of near-constant ascent averaging 6.18%, with a 16.73% maximum to keep you honest and 702 m of vertical between the 339 m base and the 1041 m top. Pace it by threshold, gear it low, and let the numbers guide you.

Length: 11.4 km
Average gradient: 6.18%
Max gradient: 16.73%
Start: 339 m
Summit: 1041 m
Net gain: 702 m
Total ascent: 687 m
Category: 1