Puerto del Trampal

Overview

Puerto del Trampal is a Category 4 climb in Spain (ES), covering 6 km from base to summit. It gains 209 m net, rising from a start elevation of 354 m to a summit of 563 m. At an average gradient of 3.49%, it sits firmly in short-and-shallow territory, the kind of climb you clear inside a warm-up rather than plan a whole ride around.

The numbers hide one detail worth noting. Net elevation gain is 209 m, but the total ascent is 217 m. That 8 m gap means the road does not climb cleanly the whole way; it gives back a little height and reclaims it, so you are pedaling over undulations rather than a single steady grade. On a climb this short the effect is minor, but it does mean your legs never fully lock into one rhythm.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 3.49% is misleading because it blends the flat stretches with the steep ones. The real work is concentrated in a single ramp reaching 10.84%, which is nearly three times the average. Around that pitch, long sections sit well below average, effectively flattening out or dipping to absorb the 8 m of extra ascent baked into the profile.

• Flatter, low-effort sections where you can spin and recover
• Short repeated rises that reclaim the height lost across the undulations
• One steepest ramp at 10.84% — the only pitch that demands a real gear change

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort rather than even speed. Holding a constant speed would force you to spike hard on the 10.84% ramp and coast the flats, wasting energy at both ends. Instead, aim to hold a steady sustainable power output across the whole 6 km, letting your speed rise on the shallow parts and fall on the steep one. Over only 209 m of net gain the penalty for pacing errors is small, but the habit is worth building. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first so your target watts are grounded in real data.

Gearing

The 10.84% maximum governs your setup, not the 3.49% average. That pitch is steep enough to stall an under-geared rider mid-climb. A compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — something like 34×32 or 34×34 — gives you a bailout gear to spin the ramp rather than grind it. Check your chainset and cassette before you ride so the steep section is a non-event.

Summary

• Length: 6 km
• Average gradient: 3.49%
• Maximum gradient: 10.84%
• Net elevation gain: 209 m
• Total ascent: 217 m
• Category: 4

Puerto del Trampal is a short, mostly gentle Category 4 climb with one steep ramp and a touch of undulation. Pace it by effort, carry a low enough gear for the 10.84% pitch, and it rewards a clean, controlled ride.