Trabakua

Overview

Trabakua is an 8 km climb in Spain that carries a category-3 rating — the fourth tier below hors catégorie, 1, and 2. It begins at 94 m and tops out at 400 m, giving a net elevation gain of 306 m and a total ascent of 293 m once the small dips along the way are added back in. The difference between those two figures — 13 m — tells you the road isn't perfectly monotonic: there are short stretches where it eases or gives back a little before climbing again.

At an average of 3.85% over 8 km, this is a climb of rhythm rather than raw survival. It rewards a rider who can settle into a sustainable tempo and hold it, rather than one who blows the doors off early. The 9.72% maximum shows the road does sharpen at least once, so the average alone undersells the hardest moments.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the shape becomes clear. A 3.85% average across 8 km with a spike to 9.72% means the steepest pitch runs roughly 5.87 percentage points above the mean. That gap is the story of the climb: long passages sit at or below average, banking the effort you'll spend when the gradient rears up.

With 293 m of total ascent spread over 8 km, the typical metre of road tilts gently. But because the summit sits 306 m above the start and only 293 m is climbed, the profile includes brief downhill or flat sections — natural recovery windows if you read them right. Expect an early settling stretch, a mid-climb steepening toward that near-10% pitch, then a run to the 400 m summit.

Pacing Notes

Trabakua is best paced by effort, not by the gradient in front of you. Because the average is a modest 3.85%, riding to your FTP keeps you honest: hold a shade under threshold on the gentle sections and let your power climb toward it only when the road hits the steep 9.72% pitch. Surging on the flatter parts wastes matches you'll want when the gradient bites.

If you don't know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator first, then translate it into a target for the 306 m of climbing ahead. On a climb this length, a steady 8 km at controlled power will beat an aggressive start every time.

Gearing

For a category-3 climb averaging 3.85% with a 9.72% maximum, most riders will be comfortable on a compact setup. A 34×32 lowest gear is plenty for the bulk of the 8 km, letting you spin the gentle sections without grinding. If you carry fatigue, favour a lighter build, or simply want insurance for that steepest pitch, a 34×34 gives you a touch more headroom to keep your cadence up when the road kicks toward 9.72%. Either way, the goal is a fluid cadence across the full 306 m of gain rather than muscling a big gear.

Summary

Trabakua is an approachable, rhythm-driven climb: 8 km at a modest average, one meaningful steep pitch, and a summit that repays steady pacing over heroics. Set your effort, respect the 9.72% moment, and let the rest come easily.

Length: 8 km
Average gradient: 3.85%
Max gradient: 9.72%
Start: 94 m
Summit: 400 m
Net gain: 306 m
Total ascent: 293 m
Category: 3