Puerto de Oka

Overview

Puerto de Oka is a 6.8 km category 3 ascent that begins at 357 m and tops out at 662 m, a net elevation gain of 305 m. On paper the 4.46% average gradient reads as a steady tempo climb, and for most of its length that is exactly what it is. But the 17.44% maximum tells you the road does not stay honest the whole way up. The total ascent of 303 m sits just below the net gain of 305 m, which means there is almost no false-flat or downhill giveback here: nearly every metre you climb, you keep. That makes Oka a clean, honest effort where the number on your computer and the number in your legs stay in close agreement.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an average of 4.46% and a maximum of 17.44%, the defining feature of Oka is the spread between the two. A 4.46% mean over 6.8 km would be a rhythm climb if the slope were uniform, but a pitch approaching 17.44% is nearly four times that average. That gap tells you the gradient is uneven: gentler stretches that let you settle, punctuated by a steeper wall where the road kicks hard. Because the total ascent (303 m) so nearly matches the net gain (305 m), those steep sections are not offset by any meaningful descents. Read the climb as a mostly moderate grind guarding one genuine ramp that you should identify early and respect.

Pacing Notes

Pace Oka off your sustainable power, not the steep pitches. The 4.46% average over 6.8 km is squarely a threshold-style effort for most riders, so anchor your climb around your FTP rather than chasing the gradient spikes. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan the climb. The mistake here is spending too much above threshold on the 17.44% wall and arriving at the 662 m summit already emptied. Instead, hold a controlled effort on the moderate slopes, accept a short surge over the steepest ramp, then recover your rhythm immediately after. With only 305 m of gain to give, discipline in the first two-thirds pays off in the final kilometres.

Gearing

The 4.46% average is comfortable on almost any setup, but the 17.44% maximum is what dictates your cassette. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is enough for many trained riders to spin the steep ramp without grinding. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra fatigue into this effort, or simply want insurance on that near-17.44% pitch, size up to a 34×34. Over 6.8 km the extra range costs you nothing and protects your knees and rhythm exactly where the road bites hardest.

Summary

Puerto de Oka rewards riders who read its shape: a mostly steady 4.46% climb over 6.8 km hiding one sharp 17.44% ramp, with almost no wasted elevation between the 357 m base and the 662 m summit. Pace it off threshold, gear for the wall, and it is a satisfying category 3 test.

Length: 6.8 km
Average gradient: 4.46%
Max gradient: 17.44%
Start: 357 m
Summit: 662 m
Net gain: 305 m
Total ascent: 303 m
Category: 3