Paso de Ayolia

Overview

Paso de Ayolia is a category-4 climb that stretches 7.2 km from an altitude of 168 m to a summit at 419 m. That works out to 251 m of net elevation gain across the full haul, at a modest average gradient of 3.47%. It is the kind of climb that rewards rhythm over raw power: long enough to matter, gentle enough to stay seated, but with a sting in the steepest sections where the road tilts to 9.98%. If you are looking for a climb you can settle into and ride at a steady tempo, this is a textbook example.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is that 3.47% average, but averages hide the story. Over 7.2 km the road delivers 251 m of net gain, yet the total ascent measured along the way is 233 m — a hint that the profile is not perfectly monotonic. Small dips or flatter shelves interrupt the climbing, which is why the recorded ascent sits just below the raw start-to-summit difference of 251 m. In practice that means stretches where you can breathe and recover, punctuated by the ramp that touches 9.98% — nearly three times the average. Expect the shape to feel uneven: long shallow drags where you carry speed, then a sharp pitch that briefly forces you out of the saddle before easing again.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is only 3.47%, most riders can hold a strong, sustainable effort for the entire 7.2 km without red-lining. The trap is the 9.98% ramp — go too hard early and you will meet it already fatigued. Use your FTP as your anchor: sit at or just below threshold on the shallow sections, then allow a controlled surge over the maximum-gradient pitch, knowing the road relents afterward. If you do not know your threshold yet, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort. On a climb this short and this gradual, pacing discipline matters more than absolute strength — the difference between a clean tempo and a blow-up is entirely about how you meter the effort into that single steep kick.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 3.47% over 7.2 km, most riders will spin comfortably on a compact setup. A 34×32 low gear is plenty for the sustained sections and gives you a light cadence to keep the legs fresh. The one caveat is the 9.98% maximum pitch: if you prefer to stay seated and turn a high cadence rather than grind, a 34×34 buys you a little extra insurance for that ramp without costing anything on the flatter drags. Either choice works — pick 34×32 if you like a firmer gear and 34×34 if you value spinning through the steep moment.

Summary

Paso de Ayolia is an approachable, tempo-friendly category-4 climb: 7.2 km at 3.47% with 251 m of net gain and a single 9.98% bite to keep you honest. Pace it with your threshold in mind, gear for comfort, and it becomes a satisfying rhythm climb rather than a struggle.

Length: 7.2 km
Average gradient: 3.47%
Max gradient: 9.98%
Start: 168 m
Summit: 419 m
Net gain: 251 m
Total ascent: 233 m
Category: 4