Puerto de La Hoya

Overview

Puerto de La Hoya is a long, honest category-3 climb that trades severity for length. Over its 13.3 km you gain 481 m net, rising from a start elevation of 805 m to a summit at 1286 m. The average gradient is a modest 3.62%, which puts this firmly in the "tempo climb" bracket rather than a wall — but 13.3 km at any sustained slope is still real work, especially if you go out too hard. Total ascent measured along the road is 484 m, only 3 m more than the net gain, which tells you this is an almost relentlessly upward road with very little in the way of dips or false descents to recover on.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to respect here is the gap between the 3.62% average and the 9.87% maximum. That spread means the climb is not uniform: for long stretches you will be riding below the average, banking speed, and then paying it back on a handful of steeper pitches that approach 10%. Because total ascent (484 m) sits almost exactly on top of the net gain (481 m), you can trust that the road climbs steadily throughout — there is no free elevation to be found and no long plateau to hide the effort. Expect to settle into a rhythm early and hold it, with your attention spiking only when the gradient ramps toward that near-10% maximum.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. The 3.62% average is deceptive — it is low enough that riders routinely overcook the opening kilometres, then struggle when the road tilts toward 9.87%. Aim to hold a steady effort just under your threshold and let the gradient dictate your speed rather than your ego. If you know your FTP, target roughly 85–90% of it as a ceiling for the sustained sections and save your matches for the steep pitches. Not sure what your number is? Run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, so you can pace by power instead of feel. The 481 m of gain will feel manageable if you meter it out; it will feel much longer if you don't.

Gearing

For a 13.3 km climb averaging 3.62% with ramps to 9.87%, most riders will be comfortable on a compact setup. A 34×32 gives you enough range to spin the steeper pitches without grinding, and it keeps your cadence up across the long tempo sections. If you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude near the 1286 m summit, or simply prefer to twiddle, a 34×34 buys extra insurance for the near-10% moments and lets you protect your legs over the full distance. Either choice works — the deciding factor is how fresh you are and how much you value spinning over pushing on the hardest ramps.

Summary

Puerto de La Hoya rewards patience: a long, steady category-3 climb with just enough steep to keep you honest. Pace the tempo, respect the ramps, and the 481 m of gain unspools smoothly.

Length: 13.3 km
Average gradient: 3.62%
Max gradient: 9.87%
Start: 805 m
Summit: 1286 m
Net gain: 481 m
Total ascent: 484 m
Category: 3