Puerto de Eripol

Overview

Puerto de Eripol is a short, honest climb that packs a real bite into a compact package. Over 5.4 km it averages 7.08%, lifting you from a start elevation of 626 m to a summit at 1010 m. That works out to a net elevation gain of 384 m, with 372 m of total ascent measured along the road — a sign that this is an almost relentlessly upward pitch rather than a rolling profile with recovery dips.

At category 2, Eripol sits comfortably above the gentler 3 and 4 ratings without straying into the sustained brutality of category 1 or hors catégorie. The defining feature is its consistency: a 7.08% average across only 5.4 km means there is very little flat to hide in, and a max gradient of 11.57% ensures at least one section where the road stands up and demands you commit.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Eripol as a steady ramp with a sting. With average and max gradients of 7.08% and 11.57%, the difference between typical effort and peak effort is real but manageable — roughly four and a half percent separates the cruising pitch from the hardest ramp. Because the net gain (384 m) sits just above the road-measured total ascent (372 m), you can trust that almost every metre of forward progress is also a metre of climbing. There are no meaningful false flats or descents to reset your legs.

Practically, that means the climb front-loads little and hides less. The steepest stretch near 11.57% is where you will want reserves in the tank, so avoid burning matches early on the more moderate lower slopes that hover around the 7.08% average.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride Eripol is to anchor your effort to your FTP. At only 5.4 km, this is a climb you can push firmly — most riders can hold something close to threshold for the roughly 20-to-30-minute duration this represents, rather than the ultra-conservative pacing a longer climb would demand.

Set a target power slightly below FTP for the opening kilometres, then allow yourself to drift above it through the 11.57% pinch, knowing the summit at 1010 m arrives soon after. If you are unsure of your threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before your attempt so your pacing plan is grounded in real data rather than guesswork.

Gearing

For a 7.08% average touching 11.57%, most riders will be well served by a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 bottom gear is the sensible baseline here — it keeps your cadence spinning through the steady middle slopes without forcing you into a grind.

If you carry endurance-level fitness rather than race legs, or you simply prefer to protect your knees on the 11.57% ramp, step up to a 34×34. That extra cog buys you a noticeably easier bailout gear for the steepest pitch and makes the final push to 1010 m far more sustainable. Given the climb's short length, err toward the easier setup — you lose nothing and gain insurance.

Summary

Puerto de Eripol rewards a committed, threshold-honest effort over its 5.4 km. It is steep enough to matter, short enough to attack, and consistent enough to pace with confidence.

Length: 5.4 km
Average gradient: 7.08%
Max gradient: 11.57%
Start: 626 m
Summit: 1010 m
Net gain: 384 m
Total ascent: 372 m
Category: 2