Puerto de Matupares cycling climb profile
Puerto de Matupares is a Category 1 climb in MX, and the headline number explains why: 31.3 km from bottom to summit, gaining 1512 m net from a start elevation of 790 m to a summit elevation of 2302 m. The average gradient is 4.84%, which makes it look steady on paper, but that number should not be treated as the full story.
The key detail is the difference between net elevation gain and total ascent. The climb gains 1512 m net, but includes 1741 m of total ascent, which points to a road that does not simply rise at one consistent pitch. There are likely sections where the gradient eases, rolls, or gives back elevation before climbing again. That matters because the average can lull riders into pacing it like a controlled tempo climb, only for the steeper sections to force repeated torque spikes.
How the gradient feels
At 31.3 km, Puerto de Matupares is long enough that the opening kilometres should be ridden with discipline, not optimism. A 4.84% average is manageable if the effort stays even, but the maximum gradient of 15.24% changes the pacing equation. Any ramp that steep will punish a rider who has already been riding at or above /glossary/ftp pace.
The climb is best understood as a long endurance ascent with intermittent hard sections rather than a pure high-gradient wall. The total ascent figure suggests the road asks for repeated re-acceleration and gear changes, especially if shallow or rolling portions are followed by steeper pitches. Those transitions are where riders often burn matches without noticing, because speed drops, cadence falls, and the instinct is to push through rather than shift early.
Pacing and gearing notes
Ride the lower slopes conservatively. The correct effort is one that feels almost too controlled early, because the climb has enough length and vertical gain to expose pacing errors well before the summit. If using power, anchor the first part below threshold and treat steep ramps as short exceptions, not the target effort. If setting zones, use /tools/ftp-estimator before the ride and build the pacing plan from sustainable climbing power, not the average gradient.
Gearing should be chosen for the 15.24% maximum, not the 4.84% average. A low climbing gear is the practical choice, especially for riders carrying fatigue, extra load, or riding in warm conditions. The goal is to keep cadence from collapsing on the steepest ramps so that the climb remains aerobic for as long as possible.
The main mistake on Puerto de Matupares is chasing the average gradient. The smarter approach is to ride the climb as a long, uneven Category 1 effort: settle in, shift before the ramps bite, use the easier sections to recover without fully backing off, and save the decisive effort for the upper part where the accumulated 1512 m of net gain starts to matter.