Puerto del Sol

Overview

Puerto del Sol is a long, patient category 1 climb that rewards discipline over aggression. It runs for 20.2 km and lifts you from a start elevation of 113 m to a summit of 1081 m — a net gain of 968 m over the ride, with 960 m of total ascent once you account for the road's small dips and false flats. The average gradient reads a moderate 4.78%, but that number hides the real character of the climb: nearly two hours of steady effort punctuated by one brutal pitch of 13.64%. This is a climb you settle into, not one you attack.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 4.78% average across 20.2 km, Puerto del Sol never lets you coast, but it rarely feels vertical either. The gap between the 4.78% average and the 13.64% maximum tells the story — most of the road sits comfortably below the average, banking gradient it will later demand back in a single steep ramp. Expect long stretches where you can hold a rhythm and even find brief recovery on shallower sections, then a sharp spike where the road rears up to 13.64%. Because total ascent (960 m) sits just below net gain (968 m), there is very little descending mixed in: this is an honest, almost relentlessly upward road. Nearly every metre you climb stays climbed.

Pacing Notes

Over 20.2 km, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below threshold for the bulk of the climb, leaving headroom for the 13.64% ramp — that pitch will spike your power sharply, and you don't want to arrive at it already redlined. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. On a climb with 968 m of net gain, going out too hard in the first few kilometres is the classic mistake; the road is long enough to punish any early overreach. Ride the shallower sections steady, absorb the steep ramp, then settle back to your target once the gradient eases.

Gearing

For a 20.2 km climb averaging 4.78% with a 13.64% maximum, gearing generously is the smart call. A compact 34-tooth front paired with a 34×32 cassette will cover most riders comfortably across the sustained sections. But the 13.64% ramp is where a lower ratio earns its keep — if your legs will be deep into 968 m of accumulated climbing by the time you hit it, a 34×34 gives you the extra spin to keep cadence up and avoid grinding to a crawl. Bring the 34×34 if you have any doubt; on a climb this long, spare gears are never wasted.

Summary

Puerto del Sol is a classic long category 1 test: 20.2 km of steady climbing, a fair 4.78% average, and one 13.64% sting to keep you honest. Pace it against your threshold, gear low for the steep ramp, and let the 968 m of gain come to you.

Length: 20.2 km
Average gradient: 4.78%
Max gradient: 13.64%
Start: 113 m
Summit: 1081 m
Net gain: 968 m
Total ascent: 960 m
Category: 1