Teofulio Summit

Overview

Teofulio Summit is a Category 3 climb in the United States, running 5.7 km from a start elevation of 880 m to a summit at 1121 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 241 m over its length. On paper it is a moderate, mid-length effort — long enough to matter, short enough to attack if you have the legs and pace it correctly.

The number that shapes the whole climb is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You gain 241 m net, but you actually climb 269 m in total — 28 m of that is regained after short descents or flat sections along the way. That undulation means the climb is not a single steady drag. You will pay for those extra 28 m of ascent with repeated changes in effort, and the road gives some of the height back before demanding it again. Plan for a rolling profile, not a constant grind.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.24% average is a blend, not a constant. Because the climb undulates, the average hides both easier-than-average stretches and pitches well above it — the steepest ramp hits 7.43%, roughly three-quarters again as steep as the mean. Ride to the average and the steep sections will spike your effort; ride to the steep sections and you will bleed time on the flatter ones.

Across the profile, expect:

• Flatter or recovery sections where the road eases well below 4.24% and lets your heart rate settle
• Repeated short climbs that regain the 28 m of extra ascent between the net-gain sections
• The steepest ramp at 7.43%, where you will need to shift down and hold form rather than surge

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed forces you to over-push the 7.43% ramp and coast the flatter parts, spiking your effort exactly where it costs most. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output: let your speed rise on the shallow sections and fall on the steep ones while the effort stays flat.

Anchor that target to a tested number. Run the FTP estimator beforehand, then ride the steep pitches just under threshold and use the flatter recovery sections to bring your average effort back into line.

Gearing

The 7.43% maximum gradient governs your gearing choice. It is not brutally steep, but combined with the repeated short climbs it will grind you down if you are over-geared. Run a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a spinning gear for the steepest ramp without forcing you out of the saddle. Check your setup before the ride so you are not caught in the wrong ratio when the road kicks up.

Summary

• Length: 5.7 km
• Average gradient: 4.24%
• Maximum gradient: 7.43%
• Net elevation gain: 241 m
• Total ascent: 269 m
• Category: 3

Teofulio Summit is a manageable Category 3 climb whose real character lives in the 28 m gap between net gain and total ascent. Pace it by effort, gear for the 7.43% ramp, and the rolling profile becomes an advantage rather than a trap.