Puerto de las Ovejas

Overview

Puerto de las Ovejas is a category 2 climb that measures 12.5 km from base to top. It starts almost at sea level, just 7 m up, and finishes at a summit of 597 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 590 m, with a total ascent of 578 m once you account for the small dips and false flats along the way. The average gradient sits at 4.73%, which reads as moderate on paper, but the maximum pitch of 12.48% tells you the effort is not evenly spread. This is a long, sustained climb rather than a short, savage wall — the kind of ascent that rewards patience and punishes anyone who lights the match too early.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 4.73% average and the 12.48% maximum is the whole story here. Over 12.5 km, a 4.73% average means the climb gains roughly 590 m of net height, yet the total ascent of 578 m confirms the road is not a single unbroken drag — there are easier interludes where the slope backs off, offset by ramps that spike well into double digits. Expect the shape to alternate: stretches near or below the average where you can settle into rhythm, then steeper kicks that briefly touch the 12.48% ceiling. The 12 m difference between net gain (590 m) and total ascent (578 m) points to only minor descents, so momentum losses are small. Treat the steep pitches as isolated efforts and let the shallower sections restore your legs.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of this length, discipline beats bravado. The moderate 4.73% average means most of the ascent can be ridden just below or around your threshold, keeping the double-digit ramps in reserve for a controlled surge rather than a survival scramble. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: aim to sit a touch under it on the sustained sections, then accept a short spike above it when the road tilts toward 12.48%. If you do not have a current threshold figure, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride so you know exactly how hard the steep 12.48% pitches will bite over the full 12.5 km. Steady input across the length is faster than heroics on any single ramp.

Gearing

For a 12.5 km climb topping out at 12.48%, give yourself room to spin. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will cover most of the ascent comfortably given the modest 4.73% average, letting you keep cadence high through the flatter sections. But for the ramps approaching 12.48% — especially deep into a 590 m gain when fatigue has set in — a 34×34 is the smarter insurance, dropping your minimum gear low enough to protect your knees and hold torque without grinding. If you climb seated and value cadence, fit the 34×34 and never regret it.

Summary

Puerto de las Ovejas is a rhythm climb: long enough at 12.5 km to demand pacing, moderate enough at 4.73% to reward it, and spiky enough at 12.48% to keep you honest. Meter your effort, gear generously, and let the 590 m of gain come to you.

Length: 12.5 km
Average gradient: 4.73%
Max gradient: 12.48%
Start: 7 m
Summit: 597 m
Net gain: 590 m
Total ascent: 578 m
Category: 2