Puerto Nuevo

Overview

Puerto Nuevo is a 12.8 km category-3 climb that begins at 446 m and tops out at 916 m, a net gain of 470 m. On paper it reads gentle: the average gradient sits at just 3.67%, and the total ascent of 469 m almost exactly matches the net gain, telling you the road climbs honestly with little in the way of descents or false flats to reset your legs. That is the character of the whole ascent. It is a long, patient grind rather than a wall, but a single ramp hitting 13.71% means you cannot switch off entirely.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number to reconcile is the gap between the 3.67% average and the 13.71% maximum. Over 12.8 km, an average that low means most of the road is well under that figure, and the steepest slope is concentrated in short bursts rather than sustained through long sections. Expect long stretches that sit comfortably below the average, punctuated by pitches that briefly spike far above it. Because the total ascent (469 m) and net gain (470 m) are within a single metre of each other, there is essentially no rolling terrain here: whatever you climb, you keep. That makes the climb feel relentless in the sense that the elevation never gives back, even if no single kilometre is brutal. Read the road, spot the ramps, and let the flatter sections carry you.

Pacing Notes

With a 3.67% average over 12.8 km, this is a climb you ride at a controlled tempo close to your threshold rather than an all-out effort. Anchor your pacing to your FTP and hold a steady power target through the shallower kilometres, allowing yourself to surge over the 13.71% pitch without blowing your effort apart. The danger on a climb this long and this gradual is starting too hot on the easy lower slopes and paying for it near the 916 m summit. If you are unsure of your numbers, run them through the FTP estimator first, then set a ceiling and refuse to cross it until you can see the top.

Gearing

For a 12.8 km climb averaging 3.67%, most riders will be fine on a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette, which gives you room to spin the long shallow sections without over-gearing. The one thing that argues for more range is that 13.71% ramp: if you tend to grind or you are carrying fatigue, a 34×34 buys you the extra cadence to float over the steep pitch seated rather than forcing you out of the saddle. Neither the length nor the average demands anything exotic, so choose based on how you handle short steep efforts.

Summary

Puerto Nuevo rewards patience and honest pacing: a long, steady 3.67% drag with one sharp 13.71% sting and a summit that never gives an inch of elevation back.

Length: 12.8 km
Average gradient: 3.67%
Max gradient: 13.71%
Start: 446 m
Summit: 916 m
Net gain: 470 m
Total ascent: 469 m
Category: 3