Alto de El Cacique

Overview

Alto de El Cacique is a Category 1 climb that gives you nowhere to hide. Over 10.1 km it averages 8.3%, and that number is not softened by flat sections — it is the honest mean of a road that keeps tilting upward from the first pedal stroke. You start at 2344 m and finish at 3185 m, a summit altitude high enough that thin air becomes a factor of its own. The net elevation gain is 841 m, with a total ascent of 809 m once the small undulations are subtracted, so nearly every metre of this climb is spent going up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait here is consistency punctuated by cruelty. An 8.3% average across 10.1 km means the road rarely dips below single-digit steepness for long, and the 14.93% maximum gradient tells you there are ramps that will nearly double the effort of an average kilometre. The gap between average and max — roughly 6.6 percentage points — is where this climb hurts most: you settle into a rhythm at 8.3%, then a wall well above it forces you out of the saddle. Because the summit sits at 3185 m, altitude compounds the gradient. The same 8.3% that feels manageable near the 2344 m base bites harder as you approach the top, where oxygen is scarcer and recovery between pitches slows to a crawl.

Pacing Notes

Discipline wins on El Cacique. With 841 m to gain over 10.1 km, this is a sustained tempo effort, and going into the red early on one of the 14.93% ramps can end your climb long before the summit. Ride to your FTP and keep your power ceiling in check on the steep sections rather than chasing them. Because you finish above 3000 m, effective sustainable power will be lower than at sea level — plan for that. If you do not know your threshold, use the FTP estimator to set a realistic target before you commit to the 8.3% grind. The steady average is your friend: meter your effort so the last kilometres near 3185 m are still rideable.

Gearing

At 8.3% average with pitches to 14.93% and altitude sapping your legs, gear low and gear early. A compact 34-tooth front paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will carry strong climbers through the sustained sections, but for the 14.93% ramps at altitude a 34×34 gives you the extra spin you will be grateful for. If your bike accepts it, err toward the easier ratio — spinning a 34×34 up El Cacique beats grinding a 34×32 to a standstill above 3000 m.

Summary

Alto de El Cacique is a pure Category 1 test: long, high, and unforgiving in its consistency. Respect the 8.3% average, save something for the walls, and gear for the altitude.

Length: 10.1 km
Average gradient: 8.3%
Max gradient: 14.93%
Start: 2344 m
Summit: 3185 m
Net gain: 841 m
Total ascent: 809 m
Category: 1