Puerto de Los Cristianos

Overview

Puerto de Los Cristianos is a short, sharp effort that packs a lot into very little road. Over just 2 km it climbs from 26 m to 157 m, a net gain of 131 m at an average gradient of 6.49%. That average alone would keep most riders honest, but the climb saves a real sting with a maximum pitch of 11.17%. It carries a category 4 rating — the gentlest of the categorised tiers below HC, 1, 2 and 3 — yet do not mistake "category 4" for "easy." At this length, the whole thing behaves less like a mountain pass and more like a single sustained interval you have to hold together from bottom to top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With only 2 km to work with, there is nowhere to hide and no long tempo section to settle into. The gap between the 6.49% average and the 11.17% maximum tells the story: this is not an evenly graded ramp. Expect stretches near or above the average punctuated by at least one steeper kick that drags toward that double-digit maximum. Because the recorded total ascent of 115 m sits below the 131 m net elevation gain, the profile is essentially all up — there are no meaningful downhill or false-flat breathers giving the numbers back. You climb, and you keep climbing, until the 157 m summit arrives.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this brief, pacing is really about not overcooking the opening. The temptation is to attack from the base and hope the 2 km is short enough to survive — sometimes it is, but the steeper ramp toward 11.17% will punish anyone already in the red. A cleaner approach is to hold a firm, sustainable effort around or just above your threshold and keep something in reserve for the steepest pitch. Riding to your FTP rather than to feel keeps the first minute from wrecking the last. If you are not sure what number that is, run the FTP estimator before your next attempt and set a target power you can actually hold for the length of the climb. Treat the whole 2 km as one continuous effort, not two.

Gearing

For a 6.49% average that spikes to 11.17%, most riders on a compact will be well served by a 34×32 as their default bail-out gear — it gives enough range to spin the steep pitch without grinding to a stall. If you are carrying fatigue, riding at altitude in the legs from a long day, or simply prefer to keep the cadence up on the max ramp, step to a 34×34. The extra sprocket costs you nothing on a climb this short and buys real insurance against the 11.17% section forcing you out of the saddle before you want to be. Either choice lets you keep the effort smooth rather than lurching.

Summary

Puerto de Los Cristianos is a compact, honest test: short enough to attack, steep enough to respect. Ride it to a controlled threshold effort, keep a gear in hand for the steep ramp, and you will crest the 157 m summit with the climb, not your legs, having decided the pace.

Length: 2 km
Average gradient: 6.49%
Max gradient: 11.17%
Start: 26 m
Summit: 157 m
Net gain: 131 m
Total ascent: 115 m
Category: 4