Puerto de la Nava

Overview

Puerto de la Nava is a short, honest category-4 climb that rewards steady legs over explosive power. It runs 5.1 km from a start elevation of 350 m to a summit at 550 m, a net gain of 200 m. On paper the average gradient of 3.89% reads gentle, and for long stretches it is — but the climb hides a maximum pitch of 7.32% that will find you if you switch off. The total ascent of 180 m sits just under the net gain, a sign that this is an almost relentlessly upward road with little in the way of dips or false flats to steal your momentum.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of this climb as a long, patient drag rather than a wall. With a 3.89% average spread across 5.1 km, most of the road tilts at a cadence-friendly angle you can hold seated for the full duration. The story is the spread between average and max: when the ramp bites up toward 7.32% — nearly double the average — the effort jumps sharply. Because total ascent (180 m) is so close to net gain (200 m), there are no meaningful recovery descents; every metre gained is a metre kept. That makes the steeper section feel harder than its length suggests, because you arrive at it already climbing, with no downhill to flush the legs beforehand.

Pacing Notes

The trap on a climb like this is going out too hard on the shallow opening and blowing up when the gradient stiffens. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to hold a controlled tempo through the easy grades, leaving headroom for the 7.32% pitch. On a 5.1 km climb the whole effort is short enough to ride slightly above threshold if you're fresh, but pacing evenly will almost always beat a fast start and a fade. If you're unsure of your numbers, spend two minutes with the FTP estimator before you plan your target power — knowing your ceiling turns the max ramp from a nasty surprise into a manageable, budgeted surge.

Gearing

For most riders a compact setup handles Puerto de la Nava comfortably. A 34×32 lowest gear is plenty for the 3.89% average and gives you enough to spin over the 7.32% maximum without grinding. If you climb at a naturally low cadence, carry heavy legs from earlier in the ride, or simply prefer to keep it easy, a 34×34 buys you a little extra breathing room on the steep pitch. Neither is overkill on a climb this short — the goal is to protect your rhythm so the max ramp doesn't force you out of the saddle before you're ready.

Summary

Puerto de la Nava is a quick, satisfying category-4 test: shallow enough to stay seated and settled, sharp enough at its steepest to demand respect. Pace it evenly, keep a compact gear in reserve, and the 200 m of climbing passes in a single clean effort.

Length: 5.1 km
Average gradient: 3.89%
Max gradient: 7.32%
Start: 350 m
Summit: 550 m
Net gain: 200 m
Total ascent: 180 m
Category: 4