Puerto de las Fuentes

Overview

Puerto de las Fuentes is a Category 3 climb in Spain (ES), running 8.7 km from a start elevation of 1,133 m to a summit at 1,507 m. Over that distance you gain 374 m net, at an average gradient of 4.32%. On paper it reads as a moderate mid-length climb, and the category confirms it: not a brutal wall, but a sustained effort that rewards steady legs.

The average, though, only tells part of the story. Total ascent is 471 m against a net gain of just 374 m — a 97 m gap. That difference means the road gives some elevation back before taking it again: you are climbing more than the net figure implies. Undulation like this raises the real cost of the ride, because every metre handed back has to be re-earned, and the descents rarely last long enough to recover fully.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 4.32% average smooths over the pitches that actually define this climb. The 97 m of "extra" ascent hides in short kickers and false flats, while the maximum gradient of 14.41% marks a ramp far steeper than anything the average suggests. Read the profile, not the headline number.

• Flatter and slightly downhill sections that let you recover — but also erase gained elevation
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, driving total ascent above net gain
• A steep ramp touching 14.41%, the hardest single stretch of the climb

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Hold a steady sustainable power output through the flatter sections rather than surging to keep the speedometer up, and let velocity rise naturally where the road eases. Save your matches for the 14.41% ramp, where speed will fall no matter what — the goal there is to keep power controlled and avoid going deep into the red.

If you do not know your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first. Anchoring your pacing to a real threshold keeps you from overcooking the early kickers and paying for it on the steep pitch later.

Gearing

The 14.41% maximum dictates your setup, not the gentle average. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a spinnable gear for the steepest ramp without wrecking your cadence. If you would grind that pitch at under 60 rpm, you are over-geared. Check your chainrings and cassette before the ride, not at the base of the climb.

Summary

• Length: 8.7 km
• Average gradient: 4.32%
• Maximum gradient: 14.41%
• Net elevation gain: 374 m
• Total ascent: 471 m
• Category: 3

Puerto de las Fuentes is a manageable Category 3 climb that punishes riders who read only the average. Pace to effort, gear for the 14.41% ramp, and treat the 97 m of undulation as the real challenge it is.