Puerto de Tablada

Overview

Puerto de Tablada is a 6.9 km category 3 ascent that lifts you from 270 m to 557 m at the summit. On paper it is a moderate climb: the average gradient sits at 4.13%, and the steepest ramp tops out at only 6.08%. The net elevation gain is 287 m, while the total ascent logged along the road is 263 m — a small gap that tells you the profile isn't a perfectly monotonic drag, but instead carries the occasional flat or micro-descent that nudges the two figures apart.

For most riders this is a climb you can settle into rather than survive. There are no wall-like pitches to fear, and the modest category 3 rating reflects a sustained but manageable effort. That makes Tablada an excellent proving ground for rhythm, pacing discipline, and reading a gradient as it shifts beneath you.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 4.13% average and a 6.08% maximum, the spread between typical and hardest gradient is a mere 1.95%. That narrow band is the defining feature of this climb: it is remarkably even. You will rarely be caught out by a sudden change of pitch, and the hardest section is only fractionally steeper than the rest.

The difference between the 287 m net gain and the 263 m of total ascent hints that the climb doesn't rise in a single unbroken line. Expect a few gentler stretches — the kind that let you shift up a gear, recover your breathing, and carry momentum into the next rise. Over 6.9 km, that steadiness rewards a rider who holds a constant power rather than surging.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient is so consistent, Tablada is best ridden at a controlled, threshold-adjacent effort. Aim to hold a percentage of your FTP that you could sustain for the full 6.9 km without fading in the final kilometre. With the average at 4.13%, the climb is unlikely to spike your power involuntarily, so the discipline is on you: resist going out too hard on the lower slopes where fresh legs make 6.08% feel trivial.

If you're unsure what number to target, run your recent data through the FTP estimator and set a ceiling before you start. A climb this even is the ideal place to practise negative-splitting — start a touch conservative, then lift the effort once you've read how your legs respond past the halfway mark.

Gearing

Gearing here is forgiving. With a maximum of 6.08% and an average barely above 4%, most riders on a compact setup will have plenty in reserve. A 34×32 lowest gear gives you a comfortable spinning cadence across every ramp on Tablada, and you'll likely never need the full range.

If you prefer to climb seated and light, or you're carrying fatigue from earlier climbs in a longer day, a 34×34 adds a little extra insurance and keeps your cadence high without straining the knees. Either choice is more than adequate — the deciding factor is your own rhythm and how spinny you like to sit on a steady 4.13% grade.

Summary

Puerto de Tablada is a steady, even-tempered category 3 climb that rewards consistent pacing over heroics. Its narrow gradient band and forgiving numbers make it ideal for dialling in rhythm and testing your climbing pace.

Length: 6.9 km
Average gradient: 4.13%
Max gradient: 6.08%
Start: 270 m
Summit: 557 m
Net gain: 287 m
Total ascent: 263 m
Category: 3