Puerto de Zugargarate

Overview

Puerto de Zugargarate is short on paper and brutal in the legs. It measures just 2.4 km from base to top, yet it carries an average gradient of 10.28% and a category 2 rating that undersells how hard it feels. Starting at 369 m and cresting at 620 m, the climb delivers a net elevation gain of 251 m over its brief span. There is nowhere to hide here: the whole thing is essentially one sustained double-digit effort, and the 16.14% maximum makes sure you never settle into a rhythm for long.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of this climb as a compressed, relentless ramp rather than a series of distinct pitches. With an average of 10.28% spread across only 2.4 km, there are no meaningful recovery flats to break the effort. The gradient hovers in the punishing range for almost the entire ascent, then spikes to 16.14% where the road pitches hardest. That gap between the 10.28% average and the 16.14% peak tells you the story: even the "easier" sections sit near ten percent, so the steep ramps land on legs that are already loaded. The recorded total ascent of 223 m sits just below the 251 m net gain, a sign of an almost uninterrupted upward grade with virtually no descending kickers to false-flat your recovery.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short and steep, pacing is about damage control, not conservation. You will spend the full 2.4 km above or near your threshold, so anchor your effort to your FTP and accept that you will drift above it on the 16.14% ramp. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan an attempt. The key is to bleed into the climb slightly under your ceiling for the first stretch, because once the gradient bites there is no soft-pedaling back down to a sustainable zone. Riders who go out too hard on the lower slopes tend to blow before the steepest section, precisely where 16.14% punishes any over-cooking. Keep your cadence honest and your breathing controlled; the 251 m of climbing comes fast, but not fast enough to bluff your way through on adrenaline alone.

Gearing

Gear for the wall, not the average. At 10.28% sustained with a 16.14% maximum over 2.4 km, this is a climb where an extra sprocket buys you real cadence. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is the sensible baseline for most riders, and it will get you up cleanly if your legs are fresh. If you tend to grind, or you are tackling Zugargarate at the end of a long day, drop to a 34×34 to protect your knees on the steepest pitch. The goal is to keep spinning above a survivable cadence rather than mashing a big gear into the 16.14% ramp and stalling.

Summary

Puerto de Zugargarate proves that category 2 climbs can punch well above their length. Short, steep, and unrelenting, it rewards riders who respect the gradient early and gear conservatively for the wall near the top.

Length: 2.4 km
Average gradient: 10.28%
Max gradient: 16.14%
Start: 369 m
Summit: 620 m
Net gain: 251 m
Total ascent: 223 m
Category: 2