Alto de Curuca

Overview

Alto de Curuca is a compact category 4 climb that packs its work into just 2.5 km. What sets it apart is where it sits: the road begins at 2560 m and tops out at 2707 m, so every pedal stroke happens in thin mountain air. The average gradient reads 5.96%, with the steepest ramp hitting 8.74%. On paper those numbers look moderate, but altitude sharpens them — the same watts cost more here than they would near sea level. The net elevation gain is 147 m, while the recorded total ascent is 123 m, hinting at a road that does not climb in one clean, unbroken line.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape of Curuca is defined by the gap between its net gain (147 m) and its total ascent figure (123 m). That difference tells you the profile is not perfectly monotonic — the climb gives back a little as it goes, with slight easings or false flats breaking the ascent rather than one continuous wall. The 5.96% average is a useful anchor, but the 8.74% max shows there is a genuine pinch somewhere in these 2.5 km where the road tilts up hard. Expect the effort to arrive in a wave: a steadier body of climbing punctuated by a steeper section that demands a gear change and a lift in cadence before the grade relents toward the 2707 m summit.

Pacing Notes

Because the climb is only 2.5 km long, Curuca rewards a controlled but committed effort — this is closer to an extended threshold push than a long tempo grind. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: riding the 5.96% average at or just under threshold keeps something in reserve for the 8.74% ramp, where a brief surge above FTP is fine given how short the remaining distance is. The altitude matters here. At 2560 to 2707 m, your sustainable power will sit below your sea-level number, so don't chase a wattage that feels correct on flatter ground. If you're unsure what threshold to hold, run your recent data through the FTP estimator and pace off that figure, then trim it slightly to respect the thin air.

Gearing

For a 2.5 km climb averaging 5.96% with an 8.74% pitch, a compact setup gives you the range you want. A 34×32 will cover most riders comfortably on the steadier sections and let you spin the harder ramp without grinding. If you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude where power drops, or simply prefer to keep cadence high, a 34×34 buys you an extra margin on that 8.74% pinch and on any short kicks the profile throws up. Given the climb's brevity, the smart move is to protect your legs early and let the lower gear absorb the steepest metre-by-metre so you crest the 2707 m summit with rhythm intact rather than staggering over it.

Summary

Alto de Curuca is short, steep in places, and defined by its altitude. Across 2.5 km it climbs from 2560 m to 2707 m at a 5.96% average, peaking at 8.74%. It won't take long, but the thin air makes every metre count — pace it like a threshold effort and let a low gear carry you over the top.

Length: 2.5 km
Average gradient: 5.96%
Max gradient: 8.74%
Start: 2560 m
Summit: 2707 m
Net gain: 147 m
Total ascent: 123 m
Category: 4