Puerto de la Cabrilla

Overview

Puerto de la Cabrilla is a Category 1 climb in Spain, running 9.2 km from a start elevation of 701 m to a summit at 1356 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 655 m across the ascent, at an average gradient of 7.14%. On paper that is a steady, honest Category 1 effort, but the profile has more texture than a single average suggests.

The gap between the two elevation figures is the detail that matters. The net gain is 655 m, but the total ascent is 1003 m — a difference of 348 m. That means the road gives back roughly 348 m of height through descents and false flats, then makes you re-climb it. You do more vertical work than the summit-minus-start number implies, and every metre lost is a metre paid for twice. Pace this like a 655 m climb and you will arrive at the steepest ramps already overdrawn.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.14% average is a blend of easy stretches and severe ones. With a maximum gradient of 30.23%, at least one pitch is far steeper than anything the average prepares you for, and the descents baked into the 1003 m of total ascent drag the average down further — meaning the climbing sections themselves run harder than 7.14%.

Expect the profile to break down roughly like this:

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road drops or eases, contributing to the 348 m of lost-and-regained height
• Repeated short climbs that reset your rhythm rather than one continuous grade
• A steepest ramp near 30.23% that demands your lowest gear and a deliberate change of pace

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, do not chase an even speed — the gradient swings too much, and holding pace over the steep ramps will spike you into the red. Anchor your effort to sustainable power output instead, letting speed rise on the easier grades and drop on the walls while the effort stays level.

Ease back slightly on the descents and false flats rather than hammering to "make up time"; you will re-climb that ground and want the reserve. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first and set a target you can hold across all 9.2 km.

Gearing

The 30.23% maximum gradient governs your setup. This is not a compact-only climb — you want a sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 is a sensible floor; 34×34 or lower gives you the cadence to survive the steepest ramp without grinding to a stall. Confirm your chainset and cassette before you ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up a 30% wall is not a problem you can fix on the road.

Summary

• Length: 9.2 km
• Average gradient: 7.14%
• Maximum gradient: 30.23%
• Net elevation gain: 655 m
• Total ascent: 1003 m
• Category: 1

Puerto de la Cabrilla rewards riders who respect the undulation. Pace to power, gear low for the 30.23% ramp, and treat the 1003 m of total ascent — not the 655 m net — as the true measure of the day.