Alto de la Honda

Overview

Alto de la Honda is a Category 1 ascent that stretches 17.6 km from a valley floor at 1405 m up to a summit of 2556 m. On paper the 6.55% average gradient looks honest and steady, the kind of number that suggests a long tempo grind. The reality is spikier: total ascent tallies 1315 m against a net elevation gain of 1151 m, meaning the road gives back a little before clawing its way higher again. Add a max gradient of 34.67% and this becomes a climb with genuine teeth, not just endurance but a wall-hunting effort in the mix.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Read the two elevation figures together and the shape reveals itself. Net gain is 1151 m, but you actually climb 1315 m — the extra 164 m comes from short descents and false flats that interrupt the ascent. That difference matters: every metre given back is a metre re-earned, usually on a steeper ramp. The 6.55% average is therefore a blend of forgiving drags and much sharper kicks. The headline 34.67% max is the single most brutal moment on the road, a pitch so steep it dictates your gearing choice all on its own, even though it may last only a handful of pedal strokes.

Pacing Notes

Over 17.6 km, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold the sustained sections a touch below threshold so you have headroom for the ramps that spike well above the 6.55% average. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. The trap here is the false flats: because net gain (1151 m) is lower than total ascent (1315 m), the road eases just often enough to tempt you into surging — resist it, recover on those metres, and save matches for the 34.67% wall. Starting at 1405 m and topping out at 2556 m, thinning air late in the climb quietly raises the cost of every over-effort.

Gearing

With a 34.67% maximum pitch and 1315 m of climbing to absorb, gear low and gear early. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 bottom gear is the sensible baseline for most riders tackling a Category 1 climb of this length. But given that peak gradient, a 34×34 setup buys real insurance — the extra range keeps your cadence alive on the steepest ramp instead of forcing a grinding, torque-heavy lurch that shreds your legs for the 17.6 km still to ride. If your bike accepts it, the 34×34 is the smarter pick here.

Summary

Alto de la Honda rewards patience and punishes ego. Meter your effort across the 17.6 km, respect the false flats hidden in the gap between net gain and total ascent, and arrive at the 34.67% pitch with something left. Gear low, ride within yourself, and the 2556 m summit is yours.

Length: 17.6 km
Average gradient: 6.55%
Max gradient: 34.67%
Start: 1405 m
Summit: 2556 m
Net gain: 1151 m
Total ascent: 1315 m
Category: 1