Puerto Llano

Overview

Puerto Llano is a short, honest climb that rewards a strong effort over a smart one. At 2.6 km with an average gradient of 6.12%, it sits firmly in category 4 territory — the gentlest of the classified tiers, but long enough and steep enough to bite if you overcook the opening. You start at 420 m and top out at 579 m, a net gain of 159 m across the ascent, with the recorded total ascent coming in at 144 m. The headline number to respect is the 9.31% maximum, a pitch steep enough to break your rhythm if you meet it in the wrong gear.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Puerto Llano as a climb defined by its spread. The average of 6.12% is a comfortable steady-state figure, but the gap between that and the 9.31% maximum — a swing of 3.19 percentage points — tells you the road is not uniform. Somewhere on these 2.6 km the gradient stiffens well past the mean, and the sections that fall short of the average are what make room for it.

With 159 m of net gain packed into 2.6 km, there is no room for long false flats to hide behind. This is a climb you feel from the base. The recorded 144 m of total ascent, sitting just under the net figure, points to a road that mostly climbs without meaningful dips — you go up, and you keep going up, until the 579 m summit.

Pacing Notes

For a climb this short, pacing is about not blowing up before the steep pitch. Ride the early slopes at or just below your threshold and hold something in reserve for the 9.31% ramp. If you know your FTP, aim to sit around it on the steady 6.12% stretches and allow yourself to drift above it only over the final steep metres, where the climb is nearly done and there is little left to pay for the effort.

If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first, then translate that into a target you can actually hold across 2.6 km. Because the summit at 579 m arrives quickly, a slight negative split — starting controlled and finishing hard — works better here than going out at full gas.

Gearing

You do not need mountain gearing for a category 4 climb, but the 9.31% maximum means you want an easy option in your back pocket. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette handles Puerto Llano comfortably. A 34×32 will spin most riders up the 6.12% average without strain, and a 34×34 gives you extra insurance for the steepest ramp if you prefer to keep your cadence high rather than grind. Fitter riders on stronger legs can hold a bigger gear, but on a climb this brief there is little penalty in carrying the easier ratio and saving your legs.

Summary

Puerto Llano is a compact, no-nonsense climb: 2.6 km of mostly steady 6.12% gradient with a 9.31% sting, lifting you 159 m to a 579 m summit. Pace the base, respect the steep pitch, and it is a satisfying category 4 tick.

Length: 2.6 km
Average gradient: 6.12%
Max gradient: 9.31%
Start: 420 m
Summit: 579 m
Net gain: 159 m
Total ascent: 144 m
Category: 4