Puerto de la Media Luna

Overview

Puerto de la Media Luna is a Category 1 climb that stretches 17.9 km from a near sea-level start at 8 m to a summit of 888 m. On paper the average gradient of 4.92% reads as moderate, but averages flatter the truth on a climb this long. With a net elevation gain of 880 m and 860 m of total ascent, almost every metre you gain is a metre you keep — there is very little false flat or descending to recover on. This is a sustained effort where the challenge is time in the saddle as much as raw steepness.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 4.92% average and the 17.31% maximum tells the real story. A climb that averaged its max would be brutal but predictable; here, ramps steeper than 17% are stitched between shallower stretches that pull the mean down. Expect the road to breathe — sections where you can settle into a rhythm, punctuated by pitches that force you out of the saddle. Because the net gain (880 m) and total ascent (860 m) sit only 20 m apart, there are no meaningful downhill breathers to reset your legs. Once you commit, the elevation keeps trending upward across the full 17.9 km. Read the road ahead and save something for the steep kicks rather than burning matches on the gentler grades.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to ride the shallow sections just under threshold so you have headroom when the gradient spikes toward 17.31%. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go — riding blind over 17.9 km is how you blow up two-thirds of the way up. The goal is an even, sustainable power output: let the steep ramps push you briefly over threshold, then recover on the flatter grades rather than the other way around. Starting from just 8 m, the early kilometres are the temptation — go easy there and you will thank yourself near the 888 m summit.

Gearing

Given the 17.9 km length and pitches touching 17.31%, gear for the steep ramps, not the average. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders over the hardest sections while keeping cadence respectable, but if you weigh more, ride tired, or simply want to spin the 17.31% pitches instead of grinding them, step up to a 34×34. The extra sprocket buys you cadence and protects your knees across a climb where you will be turning the pedals for a long time. When in doubt, choose the easier gear — you can always leave it unused.

Summary

Puerto de la Media Luna rewards patience: a long Category 1 haul where a modest 4.92% average hides ramps to 17.31%, and 880 m of gain from an 8 m start leaves no place to hide. Pace it to your threshold, gear it for the steep pitches, and let the climb come to you.

Length: 17.9 km
Average gradient: 4.92%
Max gradient: 17.31%
Start: 8 m
Summit: 888 m
Net gain: 880 m
Total ascent: 860 m
Category: 1