Alto de Cisneros La Quiebra

Overview

Alto de Cisneros La Quiebra is a Category 2 climb that rewards patience over punch. Over 10.7 km it gains 637 m of elevation, lifting you from a start at 920 m to a summit at 1557 m. The average gradient of 5.94% puts it squarely in tempo territory — steep enough that you feel it in the legs the whole way, gentle enough that you can settle into a rhythm and hold it. The total ascent of 624 m sits just shy of the net gain, which tells you this is a climb that goes up and keeps going up, with almost no false flats or descents to break the effort.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 5.94% hides a real spread. The maximum pitch bites at 11.96%, roughly double the average, so there are sections where the road kicks up and demands a genuine surge. Because the net gain (637 m) and total ascent (624 m) are so close, you can trust that the road is climbing consistently rather than rolling — the steep ramps are compensated by shallower stretches rather than by any real recovery. Expect the climb to feel front-loaded in effort once the gradient jumps toward that 11.96% ceiling, then to ease back toward the 5.94% mean where you can breathe and reset. The last stretch to 1557 m is where a well-managed effort pays off.

Pacing Notes

Treat this as a threshold climb. At 10.7 km and 5.94% average, most riders will spend 30 minutes or more here, which means your effort should sit at or just below your FTP rather than above it. Blow past threshold on the 11.96% ramps and you will pay for it before the summit. The smarter play is to soft-pedal the average gradient at a sustainable wattage and only lift your effort briefly over the steepest pitches, letting the road's own variation do the pacing for you. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target for the 637 m of climbing ahead.

Gearing

With ramps reaching 11.96% on a climb this long, gearing is your friend. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette combination gives most riders enough range to spin the average 5.94% comfortably while still leaving something for the steep pitches. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance against the 11.96% sections late in the 10.7 km, step up to 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence high and your knees happy near the 1557 m summit, where fatigue makes every gradient feel steeper than the number says.

Summary

Alto de Cisneros La Quiebra is a classic tempo climb: long, honest, and consistent, with just enough steep ramps to keep you honest. Pace it at threshold, gear it generously, and let the steady 5.94% average carry you to the top.

Length: 10.7 km
Average gradient: 5.94%
Max gradient: 11.96%
Start: 920 m
Summit: 1557 m
Net gain: 637 m
Total ascent: 624 m
Category: 2