Alto de Arauca

Overview

Alto de Arauca is a Category 2 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact profile. Over 7 km it gains 503 m, lifting you from a start elevation of 814 m to a summit at 1317 m. The average gradient sits at 7.16% — steep enough that there is nowhere to genuinely recover, and just shy of the range where a climb tips into the harder categories. With a max gradient of 19%, this is a climb defined not by its length but by the sting hidden inside it.

The net elevation gain is 503 m, while the total ascent logged is 479 m. The small gap between those figures tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with very little false descent to give back what you have earned.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 7 km with a 7.16% average, Alto de Arauca is the kind of climb where the average lies to you. A 7.16% mean sounds steady and rhythmic, but the 19% max gradient means the effort is front-loaded with spikes rather than delivered evenly. Expect long stretches near the average punctuated by ramps that briefly more than double it.

The 19% wall is the defining feature. When a climb averages 7.16% but peaks at 19%, that peak is not a rounding error — it is a section that will force you out of the saddle or drop you to your smallest gear. Because the total ascent (479 m) tracks so closely to the net gain (503 m), you should not count on flat recovery zones between the hard pitches. Plan to arrive at the steep section with something left in reserve.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride Alto de Arauca is to anchor your effort to your sustainable power rather than to how you feel in the first kilometer. Ride the opening slopes a notch below your threshold so that when the 19% ramp arrives you have headroom to surge without blowing up. A 7 km climb is short enough to push, but 7.16% average means going into the red early will cost you dearly on the back half.

If you know your FTP, target a percentage of it that you can hold for the roughly 25 to 40 minutes this climb will take most riders — the harder pitches will naturally spike you above that number, and that is fine as long as the average holds. Not sure where your threshold sits? Run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then pace the climb to that figure.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. With a max gradient of 19% and a sustained 7.16% average, you want a wide-range cassette and a compact crankset so you can keep your cadence up on the steep ramps instead of grinding to a halt.

A 34×32 is the sensible minimum for most fit riders — it gives you a low enough ratio to spin the average grade comfortably. But given that 19% pitch, a 34×34 is the safer choice, especially if you are carrying fatigue or riding at altitude near the 1317 m summit. That extra sprocket is cheap insurance against a mid-climb blow-up on the wall.

Summary

Alto de Arauca is a short but honest Category 2 climb: 7 km, a 7.16% average, and a 19% max that decides the day. Pace to your threshold, gear low, and respect the wall.

Length: 7 km
Average gradient: 7.16%
Max gradient: 19%
Start: 814 m
Summit: 1317 m
Net gain: 503 m
Total ascent: 479 m
Category: 2