Puerto de Perales

Overview

Puerto de Perales is a 9.9 km category 2 ascent that climbs from 440 m to a summit of 910 m. On paper its 4.76% average gradient reads as moderate — the kind of number that suggests a steady, rhythmic effort. But averages flatten the truth. With a maximum pitch of 18.26%, this is a climb whose character lives in its variation, not its mean. The 470 m of net elevation gain is what you'll register on your altimeter, while the total ascent of 762 m tells the fuller story: this road rolls, dips, and reloads, adding vertical metres your legs will feel even if the summit sign doesn't credit them.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 4.76% average and the 18.26% maximum is the single most important thing to understand here. If every metre were at the average, you'd never dip below or spike above it — but the total ascent of 762 m against a net gain of just 470 m confirms there are false flats and small descents baked in. That means the steep sections must be considerably steeper than 4.76% to keep the average where it is. Expect the road to lull you on the shallower ramps, then bite hard on the pitches that climb toward 18.26%. Treat the profile as a series of distinct efforts rather than one continuous grind, and the climb becomes far more manageable.

Pacing Notes

Pace this climb off your sustainable power, not the gradient in front of you. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the temptation to chase the steep ramps toward 18.26% at threshold — those spikes are where riders blow up. Instead, let power sag slightly on the shallow sections and cap your surges on the steep ones, spending your matches deliberately across the full 9.9 km. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. Over 470 m of net climbing with 762 m of total ascent, discipline in the first half buys you a summit you can actually enjoy.

Gearing

For a climb topping out at 18.26%, gearing is your insurance policy. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 32-tooth cassette sprocket — a 34×32 — is the sensible baseline for most riders tackling this ascent. If you carry extra weight, ride tired legs, or simply want to spin rather than grind through the steepest ramps, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive when the road rears toward its 18.26% maximum, protecting your knees and preserving your average speed across the full 9.9 km far better than muscling a bigger gear ever will.

Summary

Puerto de Perales rewards riders who respect its variation. The 4.76% average is honest but incomplete; the 18.26% maximum and the 762 m of total ascent are where the real work hides. Pace off your threshold, gear generously, and let the 470 m gain come to you.

Length: 9.9 km
Average gradient: 4.76%
Max gradient: 18.26%
Start: 440 m
Summit: 910 m
Net gain: 470 m
Total ascent: 762 m
Category: 2