Puerto de la Alberca

Overview

Puerto de la Alberca is a short, honest category 2 climb that packs plenty of punch into a small footprint. Over just 4.1 km the road lifts you from 83 m at the base to 387 m at the summit, a net elevation gain of 304 m. That works out to an average gradient of 7.43%, which already tells you this is not a climb you can freewheel. The total ascent of 284 m confirms there is very little relief along the way — almost every metre of road tilts upward. Steep, compact and relentless, it rewards riders who can hold a firm tempo without blowing up early.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 7.43% on average, Puerto de la Alberca sits squarely in the zone where the road feels heavy under your wheels the entire way up. But averages hide the sting. The maximum gradient bites at 11.91%, meaning there are ramps well above the mean that will force you out of any comfortable rhythm. With only 4.1 km to work with, those steep sections arrive quickly and leave little room to recover. Because net gain (304 m) sits close to total ascent (284 m), the profile is essentially one continuous upward push rather than a series of steps — a wall that keeps leaning on you from bottom to top.

Pacing Notes

The trap on a climb like this is going out too hard. At 4.1 km it feels tantalisingly short, but 7.43% sustained is enough to redline you if you attack from the base. Anchor your effort to your sustainable threshold rather than the excitement of the first ramps. A good rule is to hold your first half a touch below your FTP, then spend what's left on the pitches reaching toward 11.91%. If you don't know your number, run the FTP estimator before you ride and set realistic targets. With 304 m of climbing ahead, discipline in the opening kilometre pays off in the final one.

Gearing

Don't underrate a category 2 climb this steep. With an average of 7.43% and ramps hitting 11.91%, you want gears in reserve so you can spin rather than grind through the worst of it. For most riders a compact chainset paired with a wide cassette does the job: a 34×32 gives you a workable bailout on the sustained sections, while a 34×34 buys precious extra cadence when the road kicks toward 11.91%. Over only 4.1 km your legs will thank you for keeping the pedals turning smoothly instead of muscling every stroke.

Summary

Puerto de la Alberca is proof that short climbs can hurt. In 4.1 km it delivers 304 m of net gain at a stiff 7.43% average, with a maximum of 11.91% to keep you honest. Pace it off your threshold, gear low, and treat the whole thing as one sustained push from 83 m to 387 m.

Length: 4.1 km
Average gradient: 7.43%
Max gradient: 11.91%
Start: 83 m
Summit: 387 m
Net gain: 304 m
Total ascent: 284 m
Category: 2