Puerto de Pasapán

Overview

Puerto de Pasapán is a 13.2 km climb that carries a category 2 rating, placing it firmly in the "serious but survivable" tier of the classification scale. On paper the numbers look approachable: an average gradient of 4.67% and a net elevation gain of 617 m, starting at 895 m and cresting at 1512 m. That average is honest for a climb of this length, but it hides the sting in the profile — a maximum gradient of 15.92% means the ascent is anything but uniform. This is a climb you settle into for the long haul, not one you attack from the base.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The tension of Pasapán lives in the gap between its 4.67% average and its 15.92% peak. A steady 4.67% would be a rhythm climb, the kind you spin through in the saddle. Instead, the total ascent of 597 m across 13.2 km tells you the road repeatedly gives back what it takes: flatter breathers and mild descents pad the average, which means the climbing sections must be considerably steeper than the headline figure to still net 617 m of gain. Expect the gradient to swing — long stretches near or below the average, punctuated by ramps that jump toward that 15.92% ceiling. The difference between the 617 m net gain and the 597 m total ascent is small, so the descending is minor, but it is enough to break your cadence and force repeated re-accelerations.

Pacing Notes

Because the profile is lumpy, average power is your friend and instantaneous heroics are your enemy. Anchor your effort to your FTP rather than to how any single ramp feels. Over 13.2 km, most riders will be climbing for the better part of an hour, so target a sustainable percentage of threshold and let the gradient dictate cadence, not pace. On the steepest pitches approaching 15.92%, allow your power to drift above threshold briefly — that is unavoidable — but claw it back on the flatter sections rather than pressing on. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort. The 617 m of vertical gain is the honest ledger you are paying off; spread that debt evenly and you will crest at 1512 m with something left.

Gearing

For a climb of this shape, gearing is about protecting your legs on the 15.92% ramps, not the 4.67% average. A compact 34-tooth inner ring is the sensible foundation. Pair it with at least a 34×32 for the majority of riders — that combination lets you keep a rideable cadence on the harder pitches without grinding. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance for the steepest sections, step up to a 34×34. Given that Pasapán spikes toward 16%, erring toward the easier 34×34 costs you nothing on the mellow stretches and buys real relief where it counts.

Summary

Puerto de Pasapán rewards patience: a long, uneven 13.2 km ascent where the modest 4.67% average masks ramps up to 15.92%. Pace to your threshold, gear low, and let the 617 m of net gain come to you.

Length: 13.2 km
Average gradient: 4.67%
Max gradient: 15.92%
Start: 895 m
Summit: 1512 m
Net gain: 617 m
Total ascent: 597 m
Category: 2