Puerto del Gabaldón

Overview

Puerto del Gabaldón is a short, approachable climb that rewards steady legs more than raw power. Over 5.7 km the road lifts you from a starting elevation of 181 m to a summit of 407 m, a net gain of 226 m. The average gradient sits at a gentle 3.96%, which places it firmly in category 4 — the mildest of the classified tiers below categories 3, 2, 1 and the fearsome HC. Don't let the modest average fool you completely, though: with a maximum pitch of 8.03%, there is at least one section here that asks a real question of your legs.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of this climb is the gap between its average and its steepest moment. A 3.96% mean spread across 5.7 km is the kind of grade you can hold in a rhythm, spinning rather than grinding. But the 8.03% maximum tells you the road is not perfectly uniform — expect the incline to ebb and rise, with the shallower stretches offering recovery before the gradient stiffens. The total ascent of 219 m is marginally less than the 226 m net gain, a small discrepancy that hints at a nearly monotonic climb with little or no descending along the way. In practice, that means an honest, mostly-uphill effort from base to top.

Pacing Notes

Because the climb is short and the average grade moderate, this is a place to ride slightly above your comfort zone rather than conservatively. Aim to hold an effort just under or right around your FTP — the 5.7 km length is brief enough that you won't blow up if you push, and long enough that going too easy leaves time on the table. Save a little in reserve for the 8.03% pitch, where a momentary surge keeps your cadence from collapsing.

If you're unsure where your threshold actually sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your target power. Knowing that figure turns a guess into a repeatable pacing strategy you can test on every ascent.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 3.96% and topping out at 8.03%, most riders will be perfectly comfortable on standard compact gearing. A 34×32 bottom gear gives you enough range to spin the steepest ramp without straining, while keeping you in efficient cadence on the shallower majority of the 5.7 km. If you prefer to sit and spin rather than stand, or you're carrying fatigue from earlier climbing, a 34×34 adds a touch more insurance for the 8.03% section. Either setup is more than adequate here — the shape of Gabaldón favors rhythm over brute torque.

Summary

Puerto del Gabaldón is a tidy, honest category-4 climb: short at 5.7 km, moderate at 3.96% average, with a single 8.03% bite to keep you honest. It's a fine tempo effort and a good place to test threshold pacing.

Length: 5.7 km
Average gradient: 3.96%
Max gradient: 8.03%
Start: 181 m
Summit: 407 m
Net gain: 226 m
Total ascent: 219 m
Category: 4