Paso de Huirindil

Paso de Huirindil cycling climb profile

Paso de Huirindil is a compact but meaningful category 2 climb in CL: 7 km long, rising from 420 m to 809 m, with 389 m of net elevation gain. Its average gradient of 5.52% makes it look manageable on paper, but the key number is the 11.9% maximum gradient. That spread tells you the climb is unlikely to feel like one steady metronomic effort from bottom to summit. The ride is defined by moderation overall, interrupted by sharper sections that can punish poor pacing.

How the gradient shapes the effort

A 7 km climb at 5.52% sits in the awkward middle ground. It is long enough that going deep early creates a real cost, but not so long that you can simply settle into a diesel rhythm and wait forever for the summit. The average grade encourages confidence, especially from riders who are comfortable climbing near /glossary/ftp, but the 11.9% maximum means the climb has at least one section where momentum and gearing matter more than the headline average suggests.

The difference between the start elevation of 420 m and summit elevation of 809 m gives the climb a clear, sustained upward profile. With 389 m of net gain across 7 km, the main tactical demand is managing torque. If you ride the easier portions too hard because the gradient feels controlled, the steeper ramps become disproportionately expensive. The better approach is to treat the lower slopes as an entry into the effort, not a place to prove fitness.

Pacing notes

The simplest mistake on Paso de Huirindil is to pace it like a pure 5.52% climb. That works until the road pitches up. Instead, ride the first part with a small buffer below your target climbing effort, then use the moderate sections to stay smooth rather than to accelerate. The goal is to arrive at the steepest ramps with enough muscular freshness to keep cadence from collapsing.

For riders pacing by power, this is a climb where a flat power target can be slightly misleading. Shorter steep ramps at up to 11.9% will likely require brief rises above target power, but those surges need to be controlled. Let the gradient lift the effort, then bring it back down as soon as the road allows. If you are using perceived effort, keep the breathing stable early and avoid the kind of low-cadence grind that turns the final kilometers into damage control.

Gearing and execution

Bring a low enough gear for gradients approaching 11.9%, even though the overall average is modest. That is the practical takeaway. A setup that feels perfect for a steady 5.52% road may become limiting if the steepest section arrives after several kilometers of climbing.

The cleanest ride here is patient and efficient: seated whenever possible, gear changes made before the pitch bites, and no unnecessary accelerations. Paso de Huirindil rewards riders who respect the maximum gradient without overestimating the climb as a whole.