Alto de la Perdiz

Overview

Alto de la Perdiz is a long, steady Category 1 climb that rewards patience over punch. Over 14.9 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 458 m to a summit of 1287 m — a net gain of 829 m at an average gradient of 5.56%. The steepest ramps reach 7.94%, so while nothing here is savage, the sheer duration is what defines the effort. This is a climb you settle into rather than attack, a rhythm test that stays honest for the better part of an hour.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The numbers tell a coherent story. With an average of 5.56% and a maximum of 7.94%, the road never strays far from a sustainable pitch — there is only about 2.38 percentage points between the mean and the hardest ramp. That narrow band means the climb rarely eases into recovery flats, but it also never spikes into wall-like territory. Note too that the net elevation gain of 829 m slightly exceeds the total ascent of 806 m, a reminder that the profile isn't perfectly monotonic; expect the gradient to breathe, tightening toward 7.94% on the steeper shoulders and relaxing back toward the average elsewhere. Ride it as one continuous tempo effort rather than a series of sprints.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. The winning strategy is to hold a metered effort just below threshold and refuse to chase surges on the steeper ramps. A useful anchor is your FTP: aim to sit a touch under it for the full 14.9 km, letting the 7.94% sections nudge you toward that ceiling without pushing over it. Going too hard in the opening kilometres — where the average 5.56% feels deceptively easy — is the classic mistake that leaves you unravelling near the 1287 m summit.

If you're not sure what number to target, run the FTP estimator first and build your climb pacing around the result. Then split the ascent mentally into thirds and check your effort at each: steady, steady, then everything that's left.

Gearing

At 5.56% average with ramps to 7.94%, gearing choice is about protecting your legs across the full 829 m of climbing, not surviving a single wall. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is ideal. A 34×32 will comfortably cover the steeper 7.94% pitches for most riders with reasonable climbing fitness, keeping cadence high enough to stay aerobic. If you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude near the 1287 m summit, or simply prefer to spin, step up to a 34×34 — the extra range costs nothing on the flatter stretches and buys real insurance over a 14.9 km effort. When in doubt on a climb this long, choose the easier gear.

Summary

Alto de la Perdiz is a classic tempo climb: long, consistent, and unforgiving of poor pacing rather than of raw steepness. Meter your effort, gear low, and let the 5.56% average do the damage slowly. Respect the distance and the 829 m of gain, and the summit at 1287 m arrives sooner than the profile suggests.

Length: 14.9 km
Average gradient: 5.56%
Max gradient: 7.94%
Start: 458 m
Summit: 1287 m
Net gain: 829 m
Total ascent: 806 m
Category: 1