Alto de Aures

Overview

Alto de Aures is a long, patient climb — 26 km of continuous ascent that carries you from 935 m at the base to 2273 m at the summit. That is a net gain of 1338 m, with a total ascent of 1461 m once you account for the small dips and false flats along the way. On paper the average gradient reads 5.15%, a figure that suggests a manageable, rhythmic effort. And for long stretches, it is exactly that. But averages hide the sting: this climb tops out at a brutal 22.88%, and a Category 1 rating tells you it deserves respect. This is a full-afternoon effort, not a punchy sprint.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 5.15% average spread across 26 km, most of Aures is spent in a sustainable tempo zone — the kind of gradient you can hold seated, breathing hard but in control. The gap between the 1338 m net gain and the 1461 m total ascent means the road is not perfectly monotonic; there are brief relief sections where the grade eases and even kicks down, letting you recover before the next lift. The defining feature, though, is that 22.88% maximum pitch. A ramp that steep changes the character of the whole climb: it forces you out of your rhythm, spikes your power, and can shred legs that have already absorbed thousands of metres of climbing. Know that it is coming, and hold something back for it.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power rather than heart rate, which will drift upward over 26 km. Riding at or just below your FTP is the classic approach for a Category 1 effort, but on a climb that gains 1338 m you will want a margin — settling a touch under threshold protects you for the steep pitches. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. The single most important tactical rule: do not spend yourself on the shallow early kilometres. That 22.88% wall demands reserves, and burning matches at 5% only guarantees you crawl the steep bit.

Gearing

Bring more range than you think you need. A 5.15% average is friendly, but the 22.88% maximum is what dictates your gearing choices. A compact crankset paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline here: a 34×32 low gear will get most riders up the sustained sections comfortably, but for the steepest ramp — and for fresh-legs insurance late in a 26 km climb — a 34×34 gives you the extra spin to stay seated and turning rather than grinding to a standstill. If your setup allows something even easier, this is a climb that rewards it. Preserving cadence over 1338 m of gain is what keeps your legs alive to the summit.

Summary

Alto de Aures is a climb of two personalities: 26 km of steady, honest tempo at 5.15%, wrapped around a single ferocious 22.88% pitch. Pace it with patience, gear it for the steep, and respect the 1338 m of vertical between you and the top.

Length: 26 km
Average gradient: 5.15%
Max gradient: 22.88%
Start: 935 m
Summit: 2273 m
Net gain: 1338 m
Total ascent: 1461 m
Category: 1