Alto de Ayalas

Overview

Alto de Ayalas is a compact but genuinely demanding category 2 climb. Over just 3.7 km it averages 7.42%, and it does so at real altitude: you start at 2476 m and top out at 2751 m. That is a net gain of 275 m of vertical, with 246 m of total ascent logged along the way. The short difference between those two figures tells you the road barely lets up once it points skyward — there is very little false-flat or descending relief to recover the numbers.

At this height the thin air is as much the opponent as the gradient. A 7.42% average that would feel spicy near sea level becomes a different beast when there is less oxygen to work with, so treat the stated difficulty as a floor, not a ceiling.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by two numbers: a 7.42% average and a 12.49% maximum. That spread of roughly 5% between mean and peak means the climb is not evenly graded — there are pitches that rear up well above the average and force you out of any comfortable rhythm.

Because the total ascent (246 m) sits just below the net gain (275 m), the profile is essentially one sustained wall rather than a series of ramps split by flats. Expect the steepest section, at 12.49%, to arrive as a distinct sting rather than a gentle build. Over only 3.7 km there is no time to hide, and no long plateau to bank recovery. What you see on the gradient is what you get, end to end.

Pacing Notes

The key to Ayalas is riding to effort, not ego. Because it is short — 3.7 km — the temptation is to attack from the base, but the 12.49% pitch will punish anyone who spends too early. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: on a climb this steep at altitude, aim to sit at or just below threshold on the average grades and accept a brief surge over threshold on the max ramp, knowing the summit is close.

If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the FTP estimator before you go — a realistic number is the difference between a controlled climb and blowing up on the steepest section. Remember that altitude will suppress the power you can hold, so pace by feel and breathing as much as by the numbers.

Gearing

With a 7.42% average and ramps to 12.49% at this elevation, prioritise a low bottom gear. A 34×32 is a sensible baseline for strong climbers, giving you a spin-friendly ratio to stay seated through most of the pitch. For anyone not built for the mountains — or riding this fresh off a long day — step down to a 34×34. The extra cog buys cadence on the 12.49% wall, which is exactly where a too-tall gear turns a hard climb into a grind you have to muscle out of the saddle.

Summary

Alto de Ayalas is a short, steep, high-altitude test: 3.7 km of near-relentless climbing that rewards disciplined pacing and honest gearing over brute force.

Length: 3.7 km
Average gradient: 7.42%
Max gradient: 12.49%
Start: 2476 m
Summit: 2751 m
Net gain: 275 m
Total ascent: 246 m
Category: 2