Alto de Colpapampa

Overview

Alto de Colpapampa is a long, high-altitude Category 1 climb in Peru that asks for patience more than punch. Over 24.4 km it lifts you from 2821 m to a summit of 4212 m, a net gain of 1391 m with 1383 m of total ascent — the two figures sitting almost on top of each other, which tells you this is a road that climbs and keeps climbing rather than rolling up and down. The average gradient is a measured 5.7%, but a max of 11.56% means the mean hides some real bite. At nearly 25 km, this is an endurance effort where the thin air at the top matters as much as the incline.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The near-identical net gain (1391 m) and total ascent (1383 m) confirm an almost purely uphill profile: only about 8 m of descending across the entire 24.4 km. That makes the 5.7% average an honest number — there are no downhill stretches to inflate it, so the climbing gradient you feel is genuinely close to that figure for long spells. The gap between the 5.7% average and the 11.56% max shows where the road stiffens: expect the double-digit ramps to arrive in bursts, then relent back toward the mean. Because the summit sits at 4212 m, the final kilometres are the hardest even where the road eases, as altitude quietly steepens every pitch.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, the winning strategy is discipline. Settle in early and treat the 5.7% average as your reference effort, holding something in reserve for the 11.56% ramps rather than chasing them. Anchoring your pace to your FTP is the safest approach here — target a power just under threshold for the flatter sections so the steep pitches don't send you into the red. If you don't know your number, run the FTP estimator before you go. Remember that 4212 m of altitude reduces your available power near the top, so the effort that felt sustainable at 2821 m will feel harder at the summit even at the same gradient. Bank nothing on the early slopes; the last of the 1391 m gain is where this climb is decided.

Gearing

For a 24.4 km climb averaging 5.7% with ramps to 11.56% — all above 2800 m — gear low and gear generously. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline for the steady sections, but on the steepest 11.56% pitches, and with thin air sapping your legs, a 34×34 gives you the extra spin to keep cadence up and lactate down. Given the sustained length and altitude, err toward the easier 34×34 setup; you will rarely regret having one more gear over 1391 m of climbing.

Summary

Alto de Colpapampa is a true high-mountain test: nearly 25 km of almost unbroken ascent to a 4212 m summit, honest at 5.7% but sharp enough at 11.56% to demand respect. Pace it by power, gear it low, and let the altitude, not your ego, set the tempo.

Length: 24.4 km
Average gradient: 5.7%
Max gradient: 11.56%
Start: 2821 m
Summit: 4212 m
Net gain: 1391 m
Total ascent: 1383 m
Category: 1