Alto de El Pozo

Overview

Alto de El Pozo is a long haul rather than a wall. At 27.2 km with an average gradient of 4.17%, it belongs to the category of climbs where patience matters more than punch. You start at 1235 m and finish at 2367 m, a net gain of 1132 m, with a total ascent of 1225 m once the small dips and recoveries are counted. That gap of 93 m between net gain and total ascent tells you the road is not a single uninterrupted ramp — there are places where the grade eases or briefly tips down before climbing again.

This is a category 1 climb, one rung below the hardest hors catégorie rating. The difficulty here comes almost entirely from duration and thin mountain air near the summit, not from savage pitches.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 4.17% average across 27.2 km sounds gentle, and for long stretches it is. But the max gradient touches 11.21%, roughly two and a half times the average, so the climb is not uniform. Expect passages that sit comfortably below the average — the kind of grade you can ride in a rhythm — interrupted by steeper ramps that force you out of the saddle or down a gear.

Because the total ascent (1225 m) exceeds the net gain (1132 m), the profile includes recovery sections that give back a little altitude. These are gifts and traps in equal measure: use them to eat, drink, and reset your breathing, but don't let a false flat lull you into burning matches you'll want later.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline decides your day. Ride the first two-thirds well within yourself. A good target is a steady effort near your threshold power — anchoring your climb to your FTP keeps you from overcooking the early kilometers. If you don't know your number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go.

The steeper ramps toward 11.21% are where riders blow up. Rather than fighting to hold pace on those pitches, let your power spike briefly and settle back down once the road relents. Spread the 27.2 km evenly and you'll arrive at 2367 m with something left; go out hard on the lower slopes and the final stretch will feel far longer than it is.

Gearing

For a 27.2 km climb with pitches to 11.21%, prioritize a spinning cadence over grinding. A compact chainring paired with a wide cassette is ideal. A 34×32 low gear covers most of the sustained 4.17% terrain comfortably, but the steepest ramps reward more relief — a 34×34 gives you an extra escape gear that keeps your knees and lower back happy after two-plus hours of climbing. If you tend to labor at low cadence or you're carrying fatigue, choose the 34×34 without hesitation; the small weight penalty is nothing against 1132 m of vertical.

Summary

Alto de El Pozo is a climb of endurance and rhythm — 27.2 km of mostly moderate gradient with just enough steep punctuation to keep you honest, topping out in thin air at 2367 m. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and it becomes one of the most satisfying long climbs you can ride.

Length: 27.2 km
Average gradient: 4.17%
Max gradient: 11.21%
Start: 1235 m
Summit: 2367 m
Net gain: 1132 m
Total ascent: 1225 m
Category: 1