Alto de Chavarquia

Overview

Alto de Chavarquia is a long-haul category 1 climb that trades intimidation for endurance. At 28.4 km, it ranks among the lengthier ascents you will ever tackle, yet its 4.42% average gradient reads deceptively gentle. That number hides the real story: this is a climb of accumulation, where the challenge is not a single wall but the relentless summation of nearly half a day's steady work. You begin at 770 m and finish at 2024 m, a net gain of 1254 m spread across the full distance. The total ascent of 1388 m tells you the road is not monotonically uphill — there are 134 m of rolling giveback tucked into the profile, brief descents and flats that break the rhythm before the grade resumes.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is that 4.42% average, but averages lie on a climb this long. Buried in the profile is a maximum pitch of 20.11% — a gradient nearly five times steeper than the mean. That gap between average and max is the defining feature here. Long uphill stretches sit well below 4.42% to make room for those savage ramps, meaning you will roll through kilometres of easy spinning and then slam into pitches that force you out of the saddle. With 1388 m of total ascent against 1254 m of net gain, expect the road to surrender elevation in places, only to claw it back with interest. Read the climb in blocks, not as one continuous effort.

Pacing Notes

On a 28.4 km climb, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold the sustained sections a touch below threshold so you bank energy for the 20.11% ramps, where power will spike whether you like it or not. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit — going out too hard on the shallow opening kilometres is the classic error here, because the climb gives you every excuse to overspend early. Treat the flatter giveback sections as active recovery, not attacking terrain.

Gearing

The combination of extreme length and a 20.11% maximum demands generous gearing. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the starting point. Pair it with at least a 34×32 for the steep pitches, and if you climb at a lower cadence or carry fatigue from the distance, step up to 34×34 for genuine breathing room on the worst ramps. The extra sprockets cost nothing on the shallow 4.42% stretches but save your legs when the gradient quadruples. Over 28.4 km, protecting your knees and preserving spin matters far more than any weight penalty.

Summary

Alto de Chavarquia rewards patience and punishes ego. Meter your effort across the distance, save something for the 20.11% ramps, and let the gearing carry you when the road turns vertical.

Length: 28.4 km
Average gradient: 4.42%
Max gradient: 20.11%
Start: 770 m
Summit: 2024 m
Net gain: 1254 m
Total ascent: 1388 m
Category: 1