Puerto de Santa Cruz de la Palma

Overview

Puerto de Santa Cruz de la Palma (norte) is a short, honest climb that never lets you settle. Over just 3.5 km it lifts you from 10 m at the base to a summit of 266 m, a net gain of 256 m and a total ascent of 217 m once the small rolling sections are counted. That works out to a 7.27% average gradient, with the steepest ramp touching 8.68%. It carries a category 3 rating, which places it at the gentler end of the classification scale (behind HC, 1, and 2) but do not let the number fool you: a 3.5 km wall that averages over 7% is a genuine effort, especially if you hit it fresh off the flat.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is refreshingly consistent. With a 7.27% average and a 8.68% max, the gap between typical and hardest is small — only about 1.41 percentage points — which tells you this is a steady grind rather than a climb of dramatic ramps and false flats. There is no long shallow run-in to warm the legs and no summit-only sting to survive. Instead the road tips up early and holds a gradient in the 7% neighbourhood for most of its 3.5 km, with the pitch nudging toward 8.68% on its stiffest section. Practically, that means you can find a rhythm and defend it: the climb rewards riders who pick a sustainable cadence at the bottom and refuse to let it drift.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient is so even, this is a climb best ridden to a number rather than to feel. Aim to sit just below your threshold for the full 3.5 km — climbing at roughly your FTP will have you at the 266 m summit in good time without blowing apart on the 8.68% pinch. If you do not know your threshold, run your recent efforts through the FTP estimator first, then set a power ceiling for the lower slopes and give yourself a little headroom to lift over the steepest section near the top. Starting conservatively on the opening ramps pays off here: with only 256 m of climbing to give back, going into the red early leaves nowhere to recover on such a short, unrelenting pitch.

Gearing

For a 3.5 km climb averaging 7.27% and topping out at 8.68%, most riders will want a compact setup with room to spare. A 34×32 will get the majority of trained riders up comfortably at a workable cadence. If you are carrying fatigue, riding at altitude, or simply prefer to spin, a 34×34 gives you that extra insurance for the 8.68% ramp so you can keep the legs turning rather than grinding. Given the sustained nature of the gradient, err toward the easier ratio — protecting your cadence across the whole 256 m of ascent matters more than saving a gear.

Summary

Puerto de Santa Cruz de la Palma (norte) is a compact, uniform climb that trades length for consistency: 3.5 km of steady 7.27% gradient with a modest 8.68% peak. Ride it to your threshold, gear low enough to spin, and it becomes a satisfying test rather than a survival exercise.

Length: 3.5 km
Average gradient: 7.27%
Max gradient: 8.68%
Start: 10 m
Summit: 266 m
Net gain: 256 m
Total ascent: 217 m
Category: 3