Puerto de los Manantiales

Overview

Puerto de los Manantiales is a 5.2 km category 3 ascent that begins at 340 m and tops out at 590 m. That gives you a net elevation gain of 250 m, spread across an average gradient of 4.79%. It is the kind of climb that rewards rhythm over heroics: long enough to matter, moderate enough that a strong tempo effort can carry you the whole way without blowing apart. The total recorded ascent is 232 m, slightly under the net gain, which tells you the road climbs almost continuously with very little false-flat descending mixed in. If you like climbs where you settle into a gear and grind out a clean effort, this one fits the bill.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 4.79% on average, Manantiales sits squarely in the comfortable-but-honest range. The headline number to watch is the 7.92% maximum gradient. That figure is more than three points above the average, so somewhere on these 5.2 km there is a pitch that bites harder than the overall feel suggests. Because the net gain (250 m) and total ascent (232 m) are so close, the climbing is remarkably consistent — you are not being handed recovery on flat sections, but you are also spared any long plunge you would have to reclimb. Expect a road that ramps up early, holds a steady middle, and saves its steepest kick for a shorter stretch where the gradient pushes toward that 7.92% figure. Read it before you overcommit.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride Manantiales is to anchor your effort to your FTP. At 5.2 km and 4.79%, most riders will be on the climb somewhere in the 15-to-25-minute range, which is right in threshold territory. Target a power just below or at threshold for the steady sections, then allow a controlled surge over the 7.92% pitch rather than letting it spike your heart rate uncontrollably. If you do not know your threshold number, run your recent efforts through the FTP estimator and set a ceiling before you start. The climb is short enough that going 5% too hard early will cost you dearly near the top, and long enough that going too easy leaves free time on the road.

Gearing

Manantiales does not demand extreme gearing, but the 7.92% ramp is where under-geared riders get caught grinding. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible default. A 34×32 will keep most fit riders spinning cleanly through the steeper section without their cadence collapsing. If you carry weight, ride fatigued, or simply prefer to spin, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket gives you a genuine bailout gear over the max-gradient pitch and turns a strained slog into a manageable seated tempo. Either way, err toward the easier option; you can always leave gears in reserve.

Summary

Puerto de los Manantiales is an approachable, honest category 3 climb: 5.2 km of near-continuous ascent gaining 250 m, at a steady 4.79% with one sharper 7.92% pitch to respect. Pace it to threshold, gear it sensibly, and it becomes a satisfying tempo effort rather than a suffer-fest.

Length: 5.2 km
Average gradient: 4.79%
Max gradient: 7.92%
Start: 340 m
Summit: 590 m
Net gain: 250 m
Total ascent: 232 m
Category: 3