Alto de Ginua

Overview

Alto de Ginua is a compact climb that packs its punishment into a single, uncompromising kilometre. At just 1 km long it never gives you the luxury of settling into a rhythm — the 9.51% average gradient means you are working hard from the moment the road tilts up. Rated category 4, it sits at the gentler end of the classification scale, but the numbers tell a more honest story than the label: this is a steep, high-altitude effort with a net elevation gain of 98 m over almost no distance.

It begins at 2656 m and finishes at 2754 m. That thin air matters. Every watt costs more when you are climbing above 2600 m, and Ginua asks for those watts without pause.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency of severity rather than a dramatic ramp. With an average of 9.51% and a maximum of 8.17%, the gradient stays tightly clustered — there is no soul-crushing spike, but also no meaningful respite. You climb the whole kilometre at something close to your limit.

The total ascent figure of 72 m against a net gain of 98 m confirms there is no descending or false-flat trickery in between. What goes up stays up. The road climbs, holds, and climbs again until the summit at 2754 m.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short, pacing is really about restraint at the bottom. The temptation is to attack the opening metres, but at 9.51% average over 1 km you can blow apart quickly if you overshoot your threshold. Aim to hold a steady effort just at or slightly above your FTP, knowing the whole thing is over in a kilometre.

If you are not sure what number to target, run yours through the FTP estimator before you ride. On a 1 km wall you can afford to push a little above threshold — the effort is too brief to accumulate the kind of fatigue a long col would. Treat it like an extended, controlled sprint at altitude rather than a tempo grind.

Gearing

At 9.51% average with a summit at 2754 m, gearing is your friend. Thin air blunts power output, so the smart move is to give yourself more range than you think you need. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline.

A 34×32 will get most riders up cleanly if you have decent climbing legs and want to keep cadence honest. If you would rather spin than grind — especially at this elevation, where forcing a big gear taxes you faster — step up to a 34×34. On a punchy 1 km effort the extra sprocket costs you nothing and protects your legs for whatever comes after the descent.

Summary

Alto de Ginua is short but genuinely steep: 1 km of near-double-digit gradient at altitude, with no flat sections to hide in. Pace it as a controlled over-threshold effort, gear low, and respect the thin air. It is a category 4 climb that rides harder than its rating suggests.

Length: 1 km
Average gradient: 9.51%
Max gradient: 8.17%
Start: 2656 m
Summit: 2754 m
Net gain: 98 m
Total ascent: 72 m
Category: 4