Puerto de los Corrales

Overview

Puerto de los Corrales is a Category 2 climb in Spain, running 13.2 km from a start elevation of 559 m to a summit at 1,207 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 648 m and an average gradient of 4.92% — numbers that place it firmly in mid-mountain territory rather than among the high passes. On paper it reads as a steady, manageable ascent.

The profile tells a different story. While the net gain is 648 m, the total ascent recorded across the climb is 1,303 m. That 655 m mismatch is the descending you pay for twice: roughly half your vertical work goes into re-climbing ground you gave back on the flatter and downhill sections. Treat this as more than a 648 m effort — the undulation means your legs absorb close to double the climbing the summit elevation suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.92% average is an accounting figure, not a riding experience. Because the climb loses and regains so much elevation, the ramps that matter are far steeper than the mean, peaking at 25.33% on the sharpest pitch. Expect the gradient to swing constantly rather than settle.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road drops or eases — these dilute the average and let you spin
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each demanding a fresh surge
• A single brutal ramp at 25.33%, steep enough to force you out of the saddle

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, even climb you can ride to a fixed power number. Here you cannot. Even-effort pacing beats even-speed pacing on Puerto de los Corrales because the terrain refuses to hold one gradient. Anchor your effort to a target sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the road — spin the descents and flats rather than hammering to hold pace, then meter your effort into the steep ramps so a single 25.33% wall does not spike you into the red. Know your ceiling before you start; the FTP estimator gives you the number to pace against.

Gearing

The steepest pitch, not the average, dictates your gearing. At 25.33% you need an escape gear. Run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low ratio to keep the pedals turning through the worst ramp without grinding to a halt. Check your setup before the ride; discovering you are one gear short at 25.33% is a walk, not a climb.

Summary

• Length: 13.2 km
• Average gradient: 4.92%
• Maximum gradient: 25.33%
• Net elevation gain: 648 m
• Total ascent: 1,303 m
• Category: 2

Puerto de los Corrales is a Category 2 climb that rewards riders who respect its numbers. The gentle average masks 1,303 m of total work and a 25.33% ramp — pace to sustainable power, gear low, and let the undulation come to you.