Puerto de la Palma

Overview

Puerto de la Palma is a category 2 ascent that covers 11.2 km and climbs from a start elevation of just 8 m to a summit at 553 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 545 m and a total ascent of 547 m — the small difference telling you the road barely dips on its way up. At an average gradient of 4.88%, it sits in the honest middle ground: long enough to matter, steady enough to reward a rider who paces it well, but with a maximum gradient of 13.44% that guarantees at least one section where the legs sting.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The numbers describe a climb of two personalities. An average of 4.88% across 11.2 km is a gradient most fit riders can turn over comfortably, yet the 13.44% maximum is nearly three times that average. In practice that means long stretches of rolling, tempo-friendly grade are punctuated by short, sharp ramps. Because the net gain (545 m) and total ascent (547 m) are almost identical, there is virtually no descending or flat recovery built into the profile — every kilometre trends upward. That relentlessness is the real challenge here: you never get a free stretch to spin the legs back to life, so the steep pitches arrive on tired muscles.

Pacing Notes

Treat Puerto de la Palma as an effort you meter from the bottom. With 11.2 km ahead of you, going into the red on the first ramp is the classic mistake. Anchor your pace to your FTP: riding the shallower sections at a sustainable percentage leaves headroom to absorb the 13.44% pitches without blowing up. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the climb — it turns the abstract 4.88% average into a wattage target you can actually hold. Aim to arrive at the steepest ramps with something in reserve, then let the grade, not your ego, dictate the surge.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 4.88% but spiking to 13.44%, gearing is about protecting your cadence on those ramps. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible default. A 34×32 will get most riders up the steep sections while keeping a workable cadence, and it is plenty for the long tempo stretches. If you favour spinning, carry extra body weight, or simply want insurance for the 13.44% maximum on tired legs, step up to a 34×34 — the extra range costs you nothing on the flatter grade and buys real comfort where the road kicks. Over 545 m of climbing, preserving cadence beats grinding.

Summary

Puerto de la Palma is a fair, honest category 2 test: 11.2 km of near-continuous ascent from 8 m to 553 m, averaging 4.88% with a genuine 13.44% sting. Pace it from your threshold, gear low enough to spin the ramps, and the 545 m of gain becomes a rhythm rather than a fight.

Length: 11.2 km
Average gradient: 4.88%
Max gradient: 13.44%
Start: 8 m
Summit: 553 m
Net gain: 545 m
Total ascent: 547 m
Category: 2