Alto de Cruces

Overview

Alto de Cruces is a short, approachable climb that packs its work into just 3.3 km. Rated category 4, it sits at the gentler end of the classification scale, but the numbers reveal a climb with more character than the average gradient of 3.36% suggests. You start at 773 m and top out at 883 m, a net elevation gain of 110 m over the effort. The recorded total ascent is 90 m, a hint that the road is not a single unbroken drag upward but includes small dips and rolls along the way. It is the kind of climb you can attack with confidence, yet it still rewards a rider who paces it intelligently.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining tension of Alto de Cruces is the gap between its average and its maximum. A 3.36% mean is barely more than a false flat, the sort of grade you can spin over in a moderate gear. But the max gradient of 6.15% is nearly double that, which tells you the climb is uneven. Some sections tip toward flat or even briefly downhill, while others rear up to that steeper pitch. With only 90 m of total ascent spread across 3.3 km and a net gain of 110 m, the road clearly gives back a little height in places before clawing it back. Expect a rhythm of soft stretches punctuated by short, sharper kicks rather than a relentless, uniform wall.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is so modest, the temptation is to treat Alto de Cruces as a big-ring effort and simply power through. That works well if you hold something in reserve for the 6.15% pitches, where a momentary surge in resistance can spike your power well above your target. Aim to ride the climb just below your FTP on the flatter sections, then allow short over-threshold efforts on the steeper kicks, settling back as the grade eases. Over only 3.3 km the whole thing is over quickly, so the cost of going slightly too hard is small — but a smoother effort still nets a faster time. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your pacing.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 3.36% with a max of 6.15%, most riders will be comfortably geared with a standard compact setup. A 34×32 lowest ratio gives you plenty of range to spin over the 6.15% pitches without grinding, and for the vast majority of the 3.3 km you will be in far taller gears. If you favour a high cadence, prefer to stay seated on the kicks, or are carrying fatigue, a 34×34 offers a little extra insurance and costs you nothing on a climb this short. Either way, gearing is unlikely to be your limiter here — this is a climb decided by pacing, not by the size of your cassette.

Summary

Alto de Cruces is a brisk, honest category 4 climb: short at 3.3 km, gentle on average at 3.36%, but spiky enough at 6.15% to keep you honest. Pace the steeper pitches, spin the flatter stretches, and enjoy a summit that arrives quickly.

Length: 3.3 km
Average gradient: 3.36%
Max gradient: 6.15%
Start: 773 m
Summit: 883 m
Net gain: 110 m
Total ascent: 90 m
Category: 4