Alto de la Bandera

Overview

Alto de la Bandera is a short, sharp category-2 climb that packs a serious punch into just 4.1 km. From a start elevation of 545 m it rises to a 869 m summit, delivering a net elevation gain of 324 m at an average gradient of 7.9%. Do not let the modest distance fool you: with a max gradient of 21.16%, this is a climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke. It sits firmly in the "over before you know it, but you'll feel it" category, the kind of effort that rewards a hot, committed ride rather than a cautious drift.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is a 7.9% average, but averages hide the story on a climb like this. With a peak pitch of 21.16%, the difference between the mean and the maximum is a telling 13.26 percentage points, which means the gradient swings hard around that 7.9% line rather than holding steady. Expect sections that sit comfortably above the average punctuated by at least one savage ramp near the max. Over 4.1 km there is nowhere meaningful to recover, so the climb behaves like one continuous surge with a spike embedded in it. The total ascent of 297 m sits just below the 324 m net gain, confirming an almost relentlessly upward profile with negligible give-back.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about ceiling management, not conservation. Your effort should hover near or just above FTP for the whole 4.1 km, because there is no length here to justify holding back. The danger is the 21.16% ramp: hit it already over your limit and you will blow apart with nothing left to claw back. Ride the steadier 7.9% stretches at a firm tempo, then accept a sharp, controlled surge over the steepest pitch. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so you know exactly what "just above threshold" feels like before you commit.

Gearing

Steepness, not length, drives the gear choice here. A 21.16% max gradient will overwhelm anything geared for rolling terrain, so bring more range than the 7.9% average suggests you need. A 34×32 is the sensible baseline for most riders wanting to keep a turning cadence through the steep pitch. If you tend to grind, favour a lower ceiling, or simply want insurance for that 21.16% wall, step up to a 34×34. Over only 4.1 km the weight penalty of the larger sprocket is irrelevant, and being able to spin rather than lurch through the max ramp will save your climb.

Summary

Alto de la Bandera is a compact category-2 test: 4.1 km at 7.9% with a 21.16% sting in the tail, lifting you 324 m to a 869 m summit. Gear low, pace it near threshold, and treat the steepest ramp with the caution its number deserves.

Length: 4.1 km
Average gradient: 7.9%
Max gradient: 21.16%
Start: 545 m
Summit: 869 m
Net gain: 324 m
Total ascent: 297 m
Category: 2