Puerto Pizarro

Overview

Puerto Pizarro is a short, honest category-4 climb that rewards rhythm over heroics. Over 3.7 km the road lifts you from 272 m to 416 m, a net gain of 144 m, at an average gradient of 3.89%. That places it firmly in tempo territory: steep enough to register in the legs, gentle enough to hold a strong, sustainable effort from bottom to top. With a maximum pitch of 6.86%, there is nothing here that will force you out of the saddle for long, and the total ascent of 131 m confirms this is a climb defined by consistency rather than by any single wall.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The story of Puerto Pizarro is one of restraint. An average of 3.89% against a maximum of 6.86% tells you the road never doubles its own difficulty — the steepest ramp is less than twice the mean, so the profile stays remarkably even. Expect long stretches sitting close to that 3.89% figure, punctuated by short kicks that nudge toward the 6.86% peak before easing back. Because the net gain (144 m) sits slightly above the total ascent (131 m), the climb trends upward almost the entire way, with very little false-flat relief to break the effort. You climb, you keep climbing, and 3.7 km later you are at the 416 m summit.

Pacing Notes

This is a climb you can ride at threshold from the first pedal stroke. At 3.7 km, most riders will crest it in well under a typical 20-minute test, so treat it like a sustained tempo-to-threshold effort rather than a series of surges. Aim to sit just below or right at your FTP and hold it steady — the modest 3.89% average means power, not gradient, decides your time here. If you do not know your threshold number, run the FTP estimator first so you can pace to a target watts figure instead of guessing. Save a small reserve for the 6.86% kicks so they do not spike you into the red, then settle back into rhythm as the road relaxes.

Gearing

With a 6.86% maximum and a 3.89% average, most fit riders will be comfortable on standard climbing gearing. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear gives you enough range to spin the steeper pitches without grinding. If you carry extra load, prefer a higher cadence, or simply want insurance on the 6.86% ramps late in the climb, a 34×34 adds a touch more margin and lets you keep the legs turning smoothly all the way to 416 m. Either setup is plenty — this climb does not demand extreme ratios.

Summary

Puerto Pizarro is an ideal tempo climb: short at 3.7 km, steady at 3.89%, and never truly severe with its 6.86% ceiling. Pace it at threshold, pick sensible climbing gearing, and enjoy a clean 144 m ascent to the top.

Length: 3.7 km
Average gradient: 3.89%
Max gradient: 6.86%
Start: 272 m
Summit: 416 m
Net gain: 144 m
Total ascent: 131 m
Category: 4