Puerto del Conio

Overview

Puerto del Conio is a Category 1 climb in Spain, running 15.8 km from a start elevation of 515 m to a summit at 1,314 m. The net elevation gain is 799 m, which produces the headline average gradient of 5.06%. On paper that reads as a steady, moderate climb — the kind of number that suggests you can settle into a rhythm and hold it to the top.

The profile tells a different story. Total ascent on this climb is 2,384 m, nearly three times the 799 m net gain. That gap of roughly 1,585 m means the road repeatedly climbs, gives elevation back, and climbs again. You are doing far more vertical work than the net figure implies, and every metre lost on a descent has to be re-earned. Budget your effort against the total ascent, not the net gain.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.06% average is an artifact of all that undulation — it smooths the descents and the ramps into one deceptive number. The reality is a series of distinct efforts separated by recovery, capped by a maximum gradient of 33.08% that sits well outside anything the average prepares you for.

• Flatter and descending sections where you recover and, if you let it, coast — free speed you should use to eat and drink
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each one resetting your legs before the next
• A savage ramp reaching 33.08% — a wall you must approach with a gear in reserve, not a sprint

Pacing Notes

Do not chase an even speed here; the descents and pitches make that impossible without blowing up. Pace to an even effort instead, holding a consistent sustainable power output through the climbs and easing off on the descents to recover. Let your speed swing while your effort stays flat.

Because total ascent is nearly three times the net gain, the temptation is to overspend on the early ramps and pay for it late. Anchor your target to a percentage of threshold and defend it. If you are unsure where that sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride.

Gearing

The 33.08% maximum ramp governs your entire gearing choice. A standard setup will stall you. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 as a minimum — so you keep a spinnable gear when the road turns vertical. Check your setup before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up a 33% wall is not a recoverable mistake.

Summary

• Length: 15.8 km
• Average gradient: 5.06%
• Maximum gradient: 33.08%
• Net elevation gain: 799 m
• Total ascent: 2,384 m
• Category: 1

Puerto del Conio rewards riders who read the total ascent, not the average. Come geared for the wall, pace to effort, and use the descents — the number that matters is 2,384 m of climbing, not 799 m of net gain.