Puerto Bermejo

Overview

Puerto Bermejo is a Category 1 climb that stretches 16.7 km from base to summit. It begins almost at sea level, with the road starting at just 12 m of elevation, and finishes at 1048 m. That works out to a net elevation gain of 1036 m over the full ascent, with 1032 m of total climbing once you account for the road's minor undulations. The average gradient sits at 6.19%, a figure that reads as steady on paper but conceals a maximum pitch of 17.34% waiting somewhere along the way. This is a long, sustained effort — the kind of climb where discipline in the first half decides how much you have left for the second.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 6.19% across 16.7 km is deceptively even. Very few real climbs hold their mean gradient the whole way, and the gap between the 6.19% average and the 17.34% maximum tells you exactly that: there are ramps here that spike to more than double the overall slope. Expect the effort to arrive in waves. Some sections will sit below the average, offering brief relief where you can recover cadence, while others rear up well into double digits. With 1036 m of vertical to gain, the climb never lets you coast for long — even the shallower stretches are still climbing. Treat the 17.34% pitch as the crux and ride within yourself until you know it is behind you.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. A 16.7 km ascent gaining 1036 m is a sustained-power effort, so anchor your intensity to a percentage of your FTP rather than chasing a fixed speed. Riding just under threshold on the 6.19% stretches keeps your reserves intact for the 17.34% ramp, where power will spike whether you want it to or not. If you don't have a reliable threshold number, use the FTP estimator before you go so your targets are grounded in real data. The mistake most riders make is burning matches early on the gentler lower slopes; hold back, and the summit at 1048 m will feel earned rather than survived.

Gearing

With 16.7 km at 6.19% and pitches touching 17.34%, gearing is not the place to compromise. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the steady sections, but on the 17.34% ramp — after more than 1000 m of climbing already in the legs — a 34×34 gives you the extra range to keep your cadence spinning rather than grinding. If your bike accepts it, favour the 34×34: the lower gear protects your knees and lets you sit and pace instead of standing and blowing up on the steepest metres.

Summary

Puerto Bermejo is a genuine Category 1 test — long, tall, and topped with a savage ramp. Pace it to your FTP, gear it low, and respect the 17.34% pitch, and 1036 m of climbing will reward you with a summit worth the suffering.

Length: 16.7 km
Average gradient: 6.19%
Max gradient: 17.34%
Start: 12 m
Summit: 1048 m
Net gain: 1036 m
Total ascent: 1032 m
Category: 1