Puerto de la Higuera

Overview

Puerto de la Higuera is a category 2 climb that packs a genuine challenge into a compact 9 km. From a low start at 29 m, the road lifts you to a summit of 567 m, a net gain of 538 m over its length. The average gradient of 5.95% sounds moderate on paper, but the number that matters most is the 15.66% maximum — a pitch steep enough to break rhythm and force you out of the saddle. This is a climb you can ride briskly if you respect its steeper sections and hold something back for them.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 5.95% across 9 km rarely means a uniform slope, and Higuera is no exception. The gap between the 5.95% average and the 15.66% maximum tells the story: long stretches sit gentler than the mean, banking gradient that gets repaid on the harder ramps. Expect the effort to arrive in pulses rather than as one continuous grind. The total ascent of 525 m sits just below the 538 m net gain, which confirms the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with little in the way of descending relief — you gain elevation the whole way, and nearly every metre of it is up.

Pacing Notes

The smart approach is to anchor your effort to sustainable power on the shallower kilometres and accept short surges over the steep pitches near 15.66%. Riding just under your FTP on the average-gradient sections leaves headroom for those spikes, where power will inevitably jump well above threshold. Go too deep on the lower slopes and the steepest ramp will empty the tank before the 567 m summit. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first so your target is grounded in real data rather than guesswork. Over a 9 km climb, a controlled negative-split effort almost always beats a fast start.

Gearing

With a maximum gradient of 15.66%, gearing is where many riders get caught out. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to keep cadence respectable across the 5.95% average. But on the 15.66% ramp, a 34×32 can feel brutally tall if your legs are already loaded. If you have any doubt about your climbing strength or you are riding this at the end of a long day, fit a 34×34 instead — that extra sprocket buys precious cadence exactly where the road bites hardest and spares your knees over the steepest metres.

Summary

Puerto de la Higuera rewards discipline: a 9 km climb with a friendly-looking 5.95% average that hides a 15.66% sting. Pace it off threshold, gear low enough for the steep pitches, and the 567 m summit comes reliably.

Length: 9 km
Average gradient: 5.95%
Max gradient: 15.66%
Start: 29 m
Summit: 567 m
Net gain: 538 m
Total ascent: 525 m
Category: 2