Alto de Jesús del Monte

Overview

Alto de Jesús del Monte is a compact category 3 test that packs a real punch into a short distance. Over 5.6 km the road climbs from just 9 m at its base to 280 m at the summit, a net gain of 271 m. That works out to an average gradient of 4.84% — firmly in the tempo range, steep enough to sting but never so relentless that it snaps you outright.

The headline number, though, is the 10.25% maximum. A climb averaging under 5% that still throws a double-digit ramp at you is a climb with texture: flatter recovery stretches balanced against sharp pitches. The recorded total ascent of 256 m sits slightly below the 271 m net figure, a hint that the road has a small dip or false-flat somewhere along its length rather than climbing in one unbroken line.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of this climb as an uneven staircase rather than a single wall. With a 4.84% average and a 10.25% peak, the steepest sections are more than twice as hard as the mean. That gap tells you the effort is front-loaded onto specific ramps rather than spread evenly.

The gentle overall grade means you can carry good speed on the shallower portions, but each pitch toward that 10.25% ceiling will spike your effort and force a decision: grind it seated or accelerate over it. Because the whole climb is only 5.6 km, there are not many of these ramps — but each one matters proportionally more when the total is short.

Pacing Notes

Short climbs reward restraint far more than they reward heroics. On a 5.6 km effort, your target is a pace you can hold from the 9 m base all the way to the 280 m summit without blowing up on the 10.25% ramp.

Anchor your effort to your FTP. A category 3 climb like this is typically ridden a touch above threshold if you are racing it, or comfortably at threshold if you are riding for a time. If you do not know your number, run it through the FTP estimator first — pacing math only works when the baseline is honest.

Practically: settle in slightly below your ceiling on the 4.84% sections, hold something in reserve, and spend that reserve on the steep pitches. Let your power rise into the ramps and ease as the grade relents. The 271 m of climbing goes by quickly once you are moving.

Gearing

For a 4.84% average with a 10.25% spike, most riders will be well served by a compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 is a sensible baseline that keeps your cadence civil on the steeper ramps while leaving plenty of range for the shallower sections.

If you are a lighter-wattage rider, carrying luggage, or simply prefer to spin, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket turns the 10.25% pitch from a grind into a manageable seated effort and protects your legs over the full 5.6 km. Neither ratio is overkill on a climb with this profile.

Summary

Alto de Jesús del Monte is a short, spiky category 3 climb: 5.6 km at 4.84% average, gaining 271 m from a near-sea-level 9 m start to a 280 m summit. Pace it to the 10.25% ramp, gear low enough to spin, and it rewards a smart, controlled ride.

Length: 5.6 km
Average gradient: 4.84%
Max gradient: 10.25%
Start: 9 m
Summit: 280 m
Net gain: 271 m
Total ascent: 256 m
Category: 3