Puerto Jurado

Overview

Puerto Jurado is short, but it does not do gentle. Over just 2.1 km the road climbs from 83 m to a 284 m summit, a net gain of 201 m, at an average gradient of 9.45%. That is the kind of average that leaves no hiding place: there are no flat recovery stretches baked into the number, so an average this steep means the climb is relentlessly uphill from bottom to top. The gradient peaks at 11.64%, and it is rated category 3 — a classification that reflects its modest 2.1 km length more than its difficulty, because in feel this is closer to a wall than a rolling ascent.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by the gap between the 9.45% average and the 11.64% maximum. That spread is only a little over two percentage points, which tells you the climb is remarkably consistent: it does not ease off and then punch you: it simply stays hard the whole way. There is no long shallow run-in to spin through and no false summit to bank recovery. From the 83 m base to the 284 m top, you are grinding against a gradient that hovers close to double digits and touches 11.64% at its worst. Expect the total ascent of 163 m to arrive as one continuous effort rather than a series of separate ramps.

Pacing Notes

Climbs this steep and this short punish riders who start too hard, because a 2.1 km wall gives you no downhill and no flat to recover a rushed opening effort. The smart move is to settle into a sustainable power target early and hold it. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a climb averaging 9.45%, a well-judged pace sits just above threshold, hard enough to make the 201 m of net gain pass quickly but controlled enough that you do not blow apart before the summit. If you are unsure of your threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first, then pick a target you can actually defend for the full 2.1 km. Ration your matches — on a gradient this steep, every surge above your line costs far more than it does on shallower terrain.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With an average of 9.45% and pitches to 11.64%, you want low ratios so you can keep the cadence turning instead of grinding to a lurching stall. A compact 34×32 is the sensible baseline for most riders here, giving you enough range to sit and spin through the steepest sections rather than mashing out of the saddle. If you climb at lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance for the 11.64% ramps, step up to a 34×34 — the extra sprocket buys precious margin on a climb that never lets the gradient drop. Save the heroics for the flats.

Summary

Puerto Jurado is a compact, uncompromising test: 2.1 km that climbs relentlessly from base to summit with barely a break in the gradient. Judge your pacing, gear low, and it becomes a satisfying effort rather than a survival crawl.

Length: 2.1 km
Average gradient: 9.45%
Max gradient: 11.64%
Start: 83 m
Summit: 284 m
Net gain: 201 m
Total ascent: 163 m
Category: 3