Puerto de Llerena

Overview

Puerto de Llerena is a category 4 climb that stretches 5.1 km from a base at 630 m to a summit of 792 m. On paper it gives away 162 m of net elevation, and the numbers frame it as one of the gentler entries in the climbing hierarchy — category 4 sits at the easy end of the scale that runs down from hors catégorie through 1, 2 and 3. The average gradient is a modest 3.16%, and the steepest ramp tops out at just 5.53%. This is a climb you settle into rather than survive, a long, rolling drag rather than a wall. For riders building toward harder objectives, it is an ideal proving ground: enough sustained effort to matter, never so steep that form falls apart.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by consistency. With a 3.16% average and a maximum of only 5.53%, the spread between typical and hardest is narrow — the climb never doubles its effort on you. Note too that the total ascent, 149 m, sits slightly below the 162 m of net gain, which tells you the road climbs almost monotonically, with little of the up-and-down that inflates ascent figures on rollercoaster passes. In practice that means a smooth, predictable ramp: no false flats disguising a punchy kicker, no sudden pitch that forces a scramble out of the saddle. You can read the whole 5.1 km at a glance and pace it accordingly.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient stays so even, Puerto de Llerena rewards a metered, threshold-adjacent effort rather than surges. A 3.16% average is shallow enough that momentum and aerodynamics still matter, so hold a steady cadence and resist the urge to attack the 5.53% high point — it is not steep enough to justify blowing your effort budget. Ride it as a sustained tempo block, keeping your power just under your FTP so you arrive at 792 m with something left. If you are not sure what number to target, run your figures through the FTP estimator first and set a ceiling before you start. On a climb this consistent, discipline beats bravado: even splits across all 5.1 km will beat any go-hard-then-fade strategy.

Gearing

Most riders will find Puerto de Llerena comfortable on standard road gearing. With a maximum of 5.53% and an average barely above 3%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear leaves plenty of range to spin the steepest section without straining. If you prefer to keep cadence high or you are carrying fatigue from a longer day, a 34×34 gives you an extra measure of comfort on the 5.53% pitch, letting you sit and turn the pedals rather than grind. Either way, you are unlikely to run out of gears here — the climb simply is not steep enough to demand anything more.

Summary

Puerto de Llerena is a friendly, consistent category 4 climb: 5.1 km of even gradient gaining 162 m to a 792 m summit, with nothing sharper than 5.53% to break your rhythm. Pace it steadily, gear conservatively, and enjoy a climb built for tempo rather than suffering.

Length: 5.1 km
Average gradient: 3.16%
Max gradient: 5.53%
Start: 630 m
Summit: 792 m
Net gain: 162 m
Total ascent: 149 m
Category: 4