Puerto de Acheri

Overview

Puerto de Acheri is a Category 1 climb in Spain, running 12.9 km from a valley floor at 1,211 m up to a summit at 2,091 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 880 m at an average gradient of 6.81%. On paper it reads as a steady, honest ascent — long enough to matter, but with an average that suggests a rhythm you can settle into.

The paper number lies, though. The total ascent over the climb is 1,411 m, which is 531 m more than the net gain. That gap is undulation: the road repeatedly kicks up and drops back, so you are climbing roughly 60% more vertical than the start-to-summit figure implies. Every metre you descend has to be reclaimed, and every re-acceleration costs energy the average gradient never shows. Plan for the effort of a 1,411 m day, not an 880 m one.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.81% average is a blend of steep pitches and genuine recovery, not a constant wall. With a maximum gradient of 32.67%, at least one ramp is savage — that number cannot be paced through smoothly, so treat it as a moment to survive rather than measure.

• Flatter and downhill sections where the road gives back elevation — chances to eat, drink, and reset your cadence.
• Repeated short climbs that follow each dip, each one demanding a fresh acceleration out of the trough.
• The steepest ramp at 32.67%, likely a brief pitch that will spike your power far above anything sustainable — get into your easiest gear before you hit it.

Pacing Notes

On a smooth climb you can chase even speed. Here, don't. The undulation means even-speed pacing forces huge power surges on the ramps and wasteful coasting on the descents. Ride to even effort instead: hold a target based on your sustainable power output, let your speed rise on the shallow bits and fall on the steep ones, and accept that your pace will swing. If you don't know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go — the 531 m of extra climbing punishes anyone who starts too hot on the lower slopes.

Gearing

The 32.67% maximum dictates your setup. A standard chainset will leave you grinding or walking. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 as a floor, and go easier if your legs or fitness suggest it. On the steepest ramp, spinning a low gear beats muscling a high one every time. Check your drivetrain and shifting before the ride; discovering you're out of gears mid-ramp is not a mistake you recover from on a 32% pitch.

Summary

• Length: 12.9 km
• Average gradient: 6.81%
• Maximum gradient: 32.67%
• Net elevation gain: 880 m
• Total ascent: 1,411 m
• Category: 1

Puerto de Acheri rewards riders who read the undulation and pace to effort rather than speed. Bring low gears, respect the 531 m of hidden climbing, and the summit at 2,091 m is well within reach.