Puerto del Tremedal

Overview

Puerto del Tremedal is a long, patient climb — 15.3 km of road that carries you from a valley floor at 690 m up to a summit of 1287 m. That is a net gain of 597 m spread across a distance where average gradient settles at a gentle-sounding 3.91%. This is a category-2 ascent, sitting in the middle of the road-cycling scale (below the brutal HC and category-1 giants, but a clear step above the short category-3 and category-4 rollers). The headline number to respect is the length: at more than fifteen kilometres, this is a climb that rewards rhythm over aggression.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not let the 3.91% average lull you. An average is only the arithmetic middle of the story, and here the road stretches to a maximum of 7.18% — nearly double the mean. That gap tells you the climb is uneven: long false-flat and shallow sections that let you breathe, punctuated by steeper ramps that bite. With 597 m of net gain but 584 m of measured total ascent, the profile trends almost entirely upward, with only the faintest dips along the way. Expect to spend most of the 15.3 km in a sustainable zone, then find your legs suddenly loaded when the road tilts toward that 7.18% ceiling. The skill is anticipating those pitches rather than being surprised by them.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to hold a steady, repeatable power through the shallow kilometres, leaving headroom for the 7.18% ramps. If you go too deep early over the first few kilometres, the remaining distance of a 15.3 km ascent will punish you. A good target is riding the flatter sections just below threshold, then allowing a controlled surge on the steep pitches without redlining. If you are not sure what number to build around, run your figures through the FTP estimator first, then translate that into a wattage ceiling you can defend for the full climb.

Gearing

Because the gradient rarely gets savage, most riders will be comfortable here, but the 15.3 km duration argues for a little insurance. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is ideal. A 34×32 will handle the 7.18% maximum for strong climbers who want to keep cadence high on the steeper ramps. If you prefer to spin and protect your legs over the long haul — or if you are carrying fatigue into the climb — a 34×34 gives you an extra escape gear that turns those pitches from a grind into a rhythm. Either way, favour the lower gear early: it is far better to spin comfortably than to muscle a big gear over such a long distance.

Summary

Puerto del Tremedal is a climb of endurance more than explosiveness — long, steady, and honest, with just enough gradient variation to keep you honest too. Ride the 15.3 km with patience, respect the 7.18% ramps, and let the 597 m of climbing come to you.

Length: 15.3 km
Average gradient: 3.91%
Max gradient: 7.18%
Start: 690 m
Summit: 1287 m
Net gain: 597 m
Total ascent: 584 m
Category: 2