Puerto Vaca

Overview

Puerto Vaca is a short, no-nonsense climb that packs its work into a tight 2.7 km. From a low start at just 37 m, the road hauls you up to a summit of 229 m — a net gain of 192 m over the ascent. That works out to an average gradient of 7.16%, which is steep enough that there is nowhere to truly hide and recover on the way up. It carries a category-3 rating, sitting toward the gentler end of the classification scale (below category 1 and 2, and well below the hors-catégorie monsters), but the sustained pitch means it still stings if you overcook the opening.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Puerto Vaca is its consistency. With a 7.16% average and a maximum of 7.91%, the difference between the mean and the steepest ramp is under a percentage point — this is not a climb of dramatic swings but of relentless, even pressure. You will not find flat false-summits or plunging descents to reset your legs. Instead the gradient hovers close to that 7-and-change figure from bottom to top, edging toward 7.91% on its hardest section before easing back a touch. Because the total ascent registers at 172 m against a net gain of 192 m, the profile is essentially one clean upward line rather than a rolling stair-step. Treat the whole 2.7 km as a single sustained block of effort.

Pacing Notes

Short and steep climbs like this reward a settled, threshold-style effort rather than repeated surges. Because the gradient barely varies, your best strategy is to lock into a power output at or just below your FTP and hold it steady across all 2.7 km. There are no recovery zones to bank on, so a blow-up near the top costs you dearly. If you are not sure where your sustainable ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle it, then aim to ride the climb at a controlled, repeatable intensity. Start a shade conservative in the first few hundred metres; with 192 m still to gain, patience early pays off when the 7.91% pitch arrives.

Gearing

For a 2.7 km climb averaging 7.16% and topping out near 7.91%, most riders want a compact setup with room to spin. A 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 low gear is a sensible baseline for confident climbers, giving you enough torque to sit and grind the steady middle section without stalling. If you prefer to keep a higher cadence, carry more fatigue into the effort, or simply want insurance for that 7.91% ramp, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket lets you protect your knees and hold a smoother rhythm across the whole ascent, which matters more here than on a climb with recovery breaks.

Summary

Puerto Vaca is a compact, honest climb: steady, steep, and over before you know it, but demanding a disciplined pace the whole way. Ride it at threshold, gear low enough to spin, and let its consistency work for you rather than against you.

Length — 2.7 km
Average gradient — 7.16%
Max gradient — 7.91%
Start — 37 m
Summit — 229 m
Net gain — 192 m
Total ascent — 172 m
Category — 3