Puerto de la Graja

Overview

Puerto de la Graja is a long category 1 ascent that trades on distance and patience rather than relentless steepness. Over 17.1 km it lifts you from just 7 m above sea level to a 833 m summit, banking 826 m of net elevation gain. The moving-average gradient is a moderate-sounding 4.84%, but that figure hides the real character of the climb: a spread of shallow drags, honest middle grades, and short ramps that spike as high as 17.41%. At more than seventeen kilometres, this is a climb you settle into for the better part of an hour, and the total ascent of 812 m confirms it climbs almost continuously with only minor respite.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.84% average is the story of the whole climb, not any single stretch. Because it starts at only 7 m and finishes at 833 m, the road never really lets you coast — nearly every kilometre contributes to that 826 m of net gain. Expect the profile to swing above and below the average: long ramps around 6–8% where you can hold a steady rhythm, softer sections that offer a brief chance to recover, and isolated pitches that leap toward the 17.41% maximum. Those steep spikes are short but decisive; they arrive without much warning and force a hard change of pace. Because the average is diluted by the gentler kilometres, treat any stretch that feels "normal" as slightly harder than 4.84%, and keep watch for the ramps that push well into double digits.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just under threshold for the bulk of the 17.1 km, saving headroom for the 17.41% spikes rather than burning matches on the flatter drags. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride so you can set a realistic target power. The trap here is the modest 4.84% average tempting you to start too hard; with 826 m still to climb, a blown first third turns the upper slopes into a survival crawl. Ride the steep ramps seated where you can, stand only to clear the worst pitches, and let the gentler kilometres genuinely be recovery.

Gearing

Distance plus those 17.41% ramps makes gearing the difference between rhythm and grind. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections comfortably, but on a 17.1 km effort with pitches into the high teens, a 34×34 buys you the extra cadence to protect your legs late in the climb. If your legs, weight, or fitness leave any doubt, take the easier ratio — spinning the 34×34 over the steep spikes costs far less than muscling a 34×32 you cannot turn.

Summary

Puerto de la Graja rewards riders who respect its length as much as its gradient. Meter the effort, gear low enough to spin the ramps, and let the 826 m of net gain come to you kilometre by kilometre.

Length: 17.1 km
Average gradient: 4.84%
Max gradient: 17.41%
Start: 7 m
Summit: 833 m
Net gain: 826 m
Total ascent: 812 m
Category: 1