Paso de las Limas

Paso de las Limas cycling climb profile

Paso de las Limas is a short, controlled category 4 climb: 2.1 km at an average gradient of 5.97%, rising from 32 m to 156 m. On paper, this is not a climb defined by a single decisive wall. The important detail is the narrow gap between the average gradient and the maximum gradient of 6.86%.

That tells you the climb is likely to feel steady rather than chaotic. There is enough resistance to force a proper climbing rhythm, but the gradient does not spike far enough above the average to demand repeated accelerations or emergency gear changes. The net elevation gain is 124 m, so the effort is meaningful, but it is still short enough that pacing mistakes show up quickly rather than gradually.

How the gradient unfolds

With only 2.1 km to work with, Paso de las Limas is more about commitment than endurance management. The average gradient sits just under 6%, while the steepest listed section is 6.86%, so the climb should ride as a sustained tempo effort with minor changes in pressure rather than a variable mountain pass.

The opening matters because the climb starts low, at 32 m, and gains height quickly relative to its length. If you hit the bottom too hard, the climb is short enough that you may feel tempted to hold the surge, but long enough for that decision to cost you before the summit at 156 m. The smarter approach is to settle immediately into a repeatable cadence and let the final portion decide whether you can lift the effort.

Pacing and gearing notes

Treat Paso de las Limas as a compact threshold-style climb, not a sprint. The gradient range is tight, which rewards a smooth power profile. If riding with power, the target should feel close to a controlled /glossary/ftp effort rather than an all-out anaerobic push from the base.

Practical approach:

• Start seated and avoid over-gearing in the first few hundred metres.
• Choose a gear that lets cadence stay stable as the road trends toward its maximum gradient.
• Keep pressure on the pedals through the middle, where the average gradient is high enough to punish coasting.
• Only lift the effort once the summit is clearly within reach.

Because the maximum gradient is only slightly above the average, you should not need a radically easier bailout gear if you pace correctly. The main risk is psychological: a 2.1 km climb can look short enough to attack from the base, but at nearly 6% average, it is better ridden with restraint first and force later.