Alto de La Concepción

Overview

Alto de La Concepción is a long, category-1 haul that rewards patience over punch. At 25.4 km it is one of the more sustained climbs you will meet, yet its average gradient of only 5.19% keeps the overall difficulty in the "steady tempo" range rather than the leg-breaking territory of shorter, steeper ramps. The road starts at 154 m and tops out at 1473 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 1319 m with a total ascent of 1314 m — the small difference telling you the profile is almost relentlessly upward, with barely any give-back along the way.

What makes this climb interesting is the gap between its gentle average and its brutal maximum. A single pitch touches 22.21%, so the effort is never as uniform as the headline number suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of La Concepción as a long ribbon of moderate climbing interrupted by a handful of sharp reminders that you are still going up. For most of its 25.4 km the road hovers around that 5.19% average — a gradient you can hold in the saddle, breathing controlled, cadence smooth. The near-total absence of descent (net gain 1319 m against total ascent of 1314 m) means there is almost no coasting to break the rhythm.

The sting is the 22.21% maximum. A ramp that steep more than quadruples the average pitch, and it will force you out of the saddle and onto your easiest sprockets. Whether it arrives early, mid-climb, or near the 1473 m summit, treat any steep section as a discrete effort: don't let it blow your whole pacing plan apart.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, your ceiling is set by sustainable power, not heroics. Aim to ride the 5.19% sections at or just below your FTP — this is the threshold you can hold for roughly an hour, and with 25.4 km of climbing ahead you may be riding close to it for longer than that. If you don't know yours, spend two minutes with the FTP estimator before you plan your ride.

The key mistake is spending too much matchbook on the 22.21% ramp. Let your power spike briefly there — it's unavoidable — but immediately settle back to threshold once the road eases. Ride the average, survive the maximum.

Gearing

Long climbs with steep spikes demand a wide range at the back. The 5.19% majority is comfortable on almost any setup, but the 22.21% pitch is where compact gearing earns its keep. A 34×32 is the sensible minimum here: it gives you a bailout cog for the steep ramp without spinning out on the gentler stretches. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry extra weight, or simply want insurance across 25.4 km of ascent, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your legs turning on the 22.21% wall and preserves them for the long haul to the 1473 m summit.

Summary

Alto de La Concepción is a diesel-engine climb: 25.4 km of steady work at 5.19%, punctuated by a savage 22.21% ramp that punishes anyone who mistakes the gentle average for an easy day. Pace it at threshold, gear for the spike, and you'll crest 1473 m with something left.

Length: 25.4 km
Average gradient: 5.19%
Max gradient: 22.21%
Start: 154 m
Summit: 1473 m
Net gain: 1319 m
Total ascent: 1314 m
Category: 1