Puerto de Marjaliza

Overview

Puerto de Marjaliza is a short, honest climb that rewards a punchy effort over patient diesel work. At just 3.1 km long, it never lets you settle into a rhythm the way a long alpine haul would. The average gradient of 5.99% sits in that awkward middle band — steep enough to hurt, shallow enough that you can carry momentum if you time it right. From a start elevation of 838 m to a summit at 1023 m, you climb a net 185 m, with 170 m of total ascent recorded along the way. Its category 3 rating tells the story: this is a genuine test, but one measured in minutes rather than the long haul of a category 1 or hors catégorie giant.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 5.99% average, but averages hide the bite. This climb tops out at 12.14%, more than double the mean, which means the difficulty is not evenly spread across the 3.1 km. Expect stretches noticeably easier than 5.99% offset by ramps pushing toward that 12.14% ceiling. With only 3.1 km to work with and a net 185 m to gain, the pitch changes come quickly — there is little flat recovery to reset your legs. The gap between the 170 m of total ascent and the 185 m of net gain is small, confirming there are no meaningful descents mid-climb to break up the effort. It goes up, and it keeps going up.

Pacing Notes

Because the climb is short, the temptation is to attack from the base — resist it until you know where the 12.14% ramps sit. A smart approach is to hold a steady effort near your threshold on the average-gradient sections, then accept a surge above threshold when the road tilts toward its max. Anchoring your pace to your FTP keeps you from blowing up before the summit at 1023 m. If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride so your target wattage matches the terrain. On a 3.1 km effort, going slightly too hard early costs you more than starting conservatively and building.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 5.99% with pitches to 12.14%, gearing is about protecting your cadence on the steep ramps. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders over the steepest sections without grinding, but if you favour a spinning cadence or carry endurance-day fatigue, a 34×34 gives you that extra margin exactly where the 12.14% bites. Over only 3.1 km the penalty for having one gear too many is negligible; the penalty for running out of gears at 12.14% is a stall. Err toward the 34×34.

Summary

Puerto de Marjaliza packs a real punch into a compact 3.1 km. Steady on the 5.99% average, decisive on the 12.14% ramps, and you will crest the 1023 m summit with plenty left. A satisfying category 3 climb that punishes the impatient.

Length: 3.1 km
Average gradient: 5.99%
Max gradient: 12.14%
Start: 838 m
Summit: 1023 m
Net gain: 185 m
Total ascent: 170 m
Category: 3