Alto de Choche

Overview

Alto de Choche is an hors catégorie ascent that earns its HC rating through sheer duration. Over 27.6 km the road lifts you from a start elevation of 1801 m to a summit of 3363 m — a net gain of 1562 m and a total ascent of 1568 m once the small rolling dips are counted. The average gradient is a deceptively modest 5.67%, but at this length that number does relentless, cumulative work. This is a climb measured in hours, not minutes, and the altitude at the top means the final kilometres are ridden in progressively thinner air.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure of 5.67% describes a steady, grinding average rather than a series of vicious walls. That said, the maximum pitch reaches 10.59%, nearly double the average — so the profile is not a flat ramp. Expect the road to pulse: long, sustained stretches near the average, punctuated by short ramps that spike toward that 10.59% ceiling. Because the extra 6 m between the 1562 m net gain and the 1568 m total ascent is so small, there is almost no respite in the form of descents. Once you start climbing, you keep climbing. The shape rewards riders who can settle into a rhythm and refuse to be baited into surging over every steeper pitch.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. The right effort sits just below your threshold, so anchor your target power to your FTP rather than to how you feel in the first few kilometres — early legs lie on a 27.6 km ascent. If you don't have a current threshold number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go. Aim to climb the sustained sections at a comfortably hard tempo, and consciously soft-pedal the ramps toward 10.59% instead of chasing them; every match you burn low down is one you won't have as the summit approaches 3363 m and the thin air starts to bite. Steady beats heroic here.

Gearing

Gear for survival, not ego. With 1562 m to gain over 27.6 km and pitches touching 10.59%, you want a wide enough range to keep your cadence spinning on the steep bits. A compact 34-tooth inner ring paired with a 34×32 low is the sensible baseline for strong climbers, but most riders will be far happier with a 34×34, which gives you a genuine bailout gear for the steepest ramps and for the moments when altitude saps your legs late on. If your setup allows anything easier still, use it — spinning a light gear for hours costs far less than grinding a heavy one.

Summary

Alto de Choche is a true HC test: long, high, and unforgiving in its consistency. Respect the distance, pace off your threshold, gear low, and let the 5.67% average do its slow work while you keep something in reserve for the summit.

Length: 27.6 km
Average gradient: 5.67%
Max gradient: 10.59%
Start: 1801 m
Summit: 3363 m
Net gain: 1562 m
Total ascent: 1568 m
Category: HC