Puerto de las Cabrillas

Overview

Puerto de las Cabrillas is a category 2 climb that stretches 10.8 km from a base at 700 m to a summit at 1249 m. That gives it a net elevation gain of 549 m and a total ascent of 529 m, ridden at an average gradient of 5.07%. On paper it reads as a steady, honest climb — long enough to matter but never so relentlessly steep that it snaps you early. The one number that keeps you honest is the 15.43% maximum pitch, a ramp that lurks somewhere in the middle of that averaged-out picture and rewards anyone who has kept something in reserve.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 5.07% average and the 15.43% maximum tells the real story here. A climb that averaged its max would be a wall; instead, Cabrillas spreads its 549 m of climbing across nearly eleven kilometres, which means long stretches sit well below the average to make room for the steeper kicks. Expect the effort to arrive in waves rather than as one sustained grind: shallower drags where you can settle into rhythm, punctuated by sharper ramps that briefly double the resistance. The 529 m of total ascent tracking so close to the 549 m of net gain confirms there is very little descending mixed in — this is a climb that keeps going up, just at uneven angles.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of this length, 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 15.43%. The classic mistake is burning matches on the early ramps and limping the final kilometres. If you are not sure what wattage to target across 10.8 km, run your numbers through the FTP estimator first, then hold a smooth, repeatable output. Let the steep pitches raise your effort briefly, then recover on the flatter drags rather than chasing a constant speed.

Gearing

For a category 2 climb topping out at 15.43%, give yourself a bailout gear. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline: a 34×32 will carry most riders through the average 5.07% grades comfortably. If you weigh more, ride tired, or simply want to spin the steep ramp instead of grinding it, drop to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket turns the 15.43% pitch from a standing-effort scramble into a seated cadence you can actually sustain. There is no prize for over-gearing here across 549 m of climbing.

Summary

Puerto de las Cabrillas is a long, fair category 2 test: mostly steady at 5.07%, with a single 15.43% sting to respect. Pace it to your threshold, carry a 34×34 for insurance, and the 549 m of gain will come to you.

Length: 10.8 km
Average gradient: 5.07%
Max gradient: 15.43%
Start: 700 m
Summit: 1249 m
Net gain: 549 m
Total ascent: 529 m
Category: 2