Puerto del Negro

Overview

Puerto del Negro is an 11 km category 2 climb that trades drama for relentlessness. It starts low, at just 56 m of elevation, and tops out at 663 m — a net gain of 607 m over its full length. The average gradient of 5.5% puts it squarely in the "sustainable but never restful" bracket: steep enough that you feel it in the legs from the first pedal strokes, shallow enough that you can hold a rhythm the whole way up if you meter your effort well. With a total ascent of 591 m recorded across the road's rolls and dips, this is a climb that rewards patience over aggression.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is a 5.5% average, but averages hide the story. The maximum gradient here is 7.89%, so while there are no wall-like ramps, there are stretches that push meaningfully above the mean. Because the total ascent (591 m) sits slightly below the net elevation gain (607 m), the road climbs almost continuously — there are few, if any, false flats or descents to recover on. That matters: on a climb like this, the hardest sections aren't isolated hairpins but the cumulative grind of pitches near 7.89% arriving when your legs are already loaded from kilometres of steady 5.5% work.

Pacing Notes

Treat Puerto del Negro as a sustained tempo effort rather than a series of surges. Because the gradient rarely spikes far above average, your best tool is a disciplined power target anchored to your FTP. Aim to ride the bulk of the 11 km just below threshold, holding a little in reserve for the steeper pitches toward 7.89% so they don't force you into the red. If you don't know your threshold number, run the FTP estimator before your attempt and set a ceiling you can defend for the roughly 40-plus minutes this climb will occupy. The classic mistake is going out hard on the lower slopes at 56 m elevation and paying for it in the final third; negative-split it instead.

Gearing

For a 5.5% average topping at 7.89%, you want a compact setup with a generous rear cassette. A 34×32 lowest gear is the sensible baseline for most riders and will keep your cadence comfortable across the steady middle kilometres. If you climb at lower power, prefer a spinning style, or expect fatigue over the full 607 m of gain, step up to a 34×34 — the extra range costs nothing on the flatter approach and buys real relief on the pitches near maximum gradient. Either way, prioritise cadence over grinding a big gear.

Summary

Puerto del Negro is a fair, honest climb: 11 km of consistent effort with no cheap tricks and no true recovery, gaining 607 m to a 663 m summit. Pace it to your threshold, gear for the steady middle, and it becomes one of those climbs you finish tired but satisfied.

Length: 11 km
Average gradient: 5.5%
Max gradient: 7.89%
Start: 56 m
Summit: 663 m
Net gain: 607 m
Total ascent: 591 m
Category: 2