Puerto de los Ladrones

Overview

Puerto de los Ladrones is a Category 2 climb that stretches 12.8 km from a base at 189 m up to a summit of 824 m. That is a net elevation gain of 635 m, with 621 m of total ascent logged along the way — the small gap between the two tells you the road is not relentlessly uphill, but rolls just enough to break the rhythm before letting you settle back in.

The headline number is an average gradient of 4.96%. On paper that reads as a moderate, sustainable haul rather than a wall. But the maximum pitch touches 9.22%, so the effort is far from uniform. The difference between the average and that steepest ramp — some 4.26 percentage points — is where this climb hides its teeth.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 4.96% average across 12.8 km is the kind of grade you can spin all day if the road held that value the whole way. It does not. The 9.22% maximum means there are stretches carrying nearly double the average, and those pitches are balanced out by shallower, recovery-friendly sections that pull the mean back down toward 5%.

Read the shape this way: gentle stretches let you carry speed and momentum, then the road tilts up and asks for a real, measured effort. Because total ascent (621 m) sits just under net gain (635 m), you are not fighting big descents mid-climb — the profile trends upward almost the entire time, punctuated by ramps rather than interrupted by drops. Expect to shift up and down repeatedly rather than lock into a single gear.

Pacing Notes

The smart approach on a climb like this is to pace off the average, not the steep ramps. Anchor your effort to a percentage of your FTP and let the gradient do the varying while your power stays honest. Aim to hold a steady, sustainable output across the shallower kilometres, then accept a controlled surge over the 9.22% pitches — spiking too hard early on a 12.8 km effort will cost you dearly before the 824 m summit.

If you are not sure what wattage to target, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first, then set a ceiling you can hold for the full climb. Over 635 m of gain, discipline beats bravado.

Gearing

For a 12.8 km climb averaging 4.96% with ramps to 9.22%, prioritise a low enough gear to keep your cadence up on the steep pitches. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible pick. A 34×32 will cover most riders comfortably on the sustained sections, but on the 9.22% ramps — especially deep into the climb with tired legs — a 34×34 gives you the extra margin to keep spinning rather than grinding. If in doubt, take the 34×34: you rarely regret an easier gear over 635 m of vertical.

Summary

Puerto de los Ladrones rewards steady pacing and honest gearing. It is a Category 2 effort with a moderate average, a genuine sting in its steepest ramps, and a profile that trends up almost the whole way to the summit.

Length: 12.8 km
Average gradient: 4.96%
Max gradient: 9.22%
Start: 189 m
Summit: 824 m
Net gain: 635 m
Total ascent: 621 m
Category: 2