Alto de la Llama

Overview

Alto de la Llama is a Category 2 climb that packs a real punch into a compact 5.1 km. It lifts you from 83 m at the base to a 417 m summit, a net gain of 334 m, with the road tilting at an average of 6.51%. That average is the number that matters most here: it is steep enough to keep you honest for the entire length, without ever dropping into the false-flat territory that lets you recover on the move.

The category tells the story. On the five-tier scale where HC is the hardest, followed by 1, 2, 3 and 4, a Category 2 rating places Alto de la Llama firmly in serious territory — harder than the rolling 3s and 4s, but a step below the marquee giants. It is the kind of climb that shapes a ride without dominating your whole day.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining tension of this climb is the gap between its 6.51% average and its 8.61% maximum — a spread of just 2.1 percentage points. That narrow band is good news and bad news. The good news: there are no wall-like ramps waiting to ambush you. The bad news: the road rarely relents. Where climbs with a wider spread offer brief flats to trade against their steep pitches, Alto de la Llama holds a remarkably consistent slope.

Note too the difference between the 334 m net gain and the 311 m total ascent. Net elevation gain measures start-to-summit; total ascent counts every metre climbed. Here they are close, which confirms what the gradient numbers suggest — this is an honest, mostly uninterrupted ascent with little in the way of downhill respite to inflate the climbing count.

Pacing Notes

With a consistent gradient like this, pacing is refreshingly simple: set a sustainable effort at the base and hold it. Because the slope barely varies, the power you can hold for the opening kilometre is very close to the power you should hold all the way to 417 m.

Anchor that effort to your FTP. For a Category 2 climb of roughly 5.1 km, most riders will want to sit just below or right around threshold — hard, but repeatable. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first, then translate that into a target you can defend against the steady 6.51% pull. The single mistake to avoid is over-cooking the first slope; the 8.61% pitch will find anyone who started too rich.

Gearing

For a sustained 6.51% average topping out at 8.61%, gear low enough to spin rather than grind. A compact 34-tooth inner ring is the sensible foundation. Pairing that 34 with a 34×32 cassette gives most fit riders enough range to keep cadence up through the steepest pitch. If you carry any fatigue, favour endurance over racing, or simply want more margin, step up to a 34×34 — the extra sprocket keeps your legs turning when the gradient bites near the top. Both setups let you honour the golden rule of steady climbs: protect your cadence and let the gradient, not your gearing, dictate the effort.

Summary

Alto de la Llama rewards discipline. Its consistency is its character — a steady, honest Category 2 grind where smart pacing beats brute force every time.

Length: 5.1 km
Average gradient: 6.51%
Max gradient: 8.61%
Start: 83 m
Summit: 417 m
Net gain: 334 m
Total ascent: 311 m
Category: 2