Alto de Chupadero

Overview

Alto de Chupadero is a hors catégorie climb that does not bother easing you in. Over 14.7 km it averages a savage 10.28%, hauling you from a valley floor at 727 m all the way to a 2235 m summit. That is 1508 m of net elevation gain — and with 1471 m of total ascent packed into the same distance, this is a road that points relentlessly upward with almost no relief. There is no free-wheeling recovery hidden in these numbers; the small gap between net gain and total ascent tells you the descents are essentially non-existent.

At an average this steep, the arithmetic is unforgiving. A 10.28% mean gradient across nearly 15 km puts Chupadero in the same conversation as the hardest paved climbs anywhere, and the max pitch of 20.07% means there are sections that nearly double the average. This is a summit you earn.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by consistency rather than surprise. When the average is 10.28% and the maximum is 20.07%, the ramps are steep but the climb never truly relents between them — it is the sustained pressure, not a single wall, that breaks riders. Expect the gradient to hover in double digits for long stretches, with the steepest 20.07% pitches arriving as sharp stabs on top of an already brutal baseline.

Because total ascent (1471 m) sits just below net gain (1508 m) over the full 14.7 km, you can treat this as an unbroken climb. There are no meaningful plateaus to spin out your legs, and no descents to reset your heart rate. Every kilometre you tick off is a kilometre of climbing.

Pacing Notes

Discipline wins here. Sustaining anything near your FTP for the better part of an hour on a 10.28% grade is unrealistic for most riders, so aim to settle just below threshold and protect that margin for the 20.07% ramps. If you do not know your number, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace.

Start conservatively. With 14.7 km and 1508 m still to gain from the 727 m base, going too hard in the opening kilometres leaves nothing for the summit approach near 2235 m, where altitude compounds the effort. Break the climb into segments and hold something in reserve.

Gearing

Gear for survival, not for pride. On a 10.28% average with 20.07% spikes, you want the lowest ratio you can get. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is the minimum I would recommend, and even strong climbers will be grateful for the extra range of a 34×34. On the steepest pitches, that one-tooth difference between 34×32 and 34×34 is the margin between grinding forward and stalling out. If your bike accepts a wider cassette, take it — 1508 m of climbing rewards spinning over mashing.

Summary

Alto de Chupadero is a genuine HC monster: relentlessly steep, mercifully honest, and long enough to expose any pacing mistake. Respect the average, prepare for the 20.07% ramps, and gear low.

Length: 14.7 km
Average gradient: 10.28%
Max gradient: 20.07%
Start: 727 m
Summit: 2235 m
Net gain: 1508 m
Total ascent: 1471 m
Category: HC