Alto de La Pita

Overview

Alto de La Pita is a Category 1 climb that packs a lot of punishment into a compact 6.6 km. It starts at 144 m and tops out at 657 m, a net gain of 513 m, and it does so at a stern 7.8% average gradient. That average alone would earn respect, but the real bite comes from ramps reaching 16.24%. This is a climb with no easy way to hide: from the moment the road tilts up, you are working, and the numbers demand honesty from the first pedal stroke to the last.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining trait of La Pita is consistency of effort punctuated by sharp spikes. A 7.8% average across 6.6 km means there is very little flat recovery baked into the route. Where the total ascent of 475 m sits below the 513 m net gain, it tells you the climb is essentially unidirectional upward with negligible descending relief inside it. The 16.24% max is more than double the average, so expect the road to lurch well above 8% in its steepest sections while easier stretches drop back toward the mid-single digits to balance the books. Read the surface ahead and anticipate those pitches rather than getting caught flat-footed.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about not detonating early. Ride the opening kilometres a touch under your threshold so you have something left when the gradient spikes toward 16.24%. Anchoring your effort to your FTP is the smartest approach here: aim to hold a steady percentage of it and let the steep ramps push you briefly above without chasing the number back down on every pitch. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target, then break the 6.6 km into thirds and check your effort at each. The 513 m of gain will be there whether you meter it or not.

Gearing

Gearing is where La Pita separates prepared riders from optimistic ones. With a 7.8% average and 16.24% ramps, you want low, low ratios. A compact chainring is essential, and on the cassette a 34×32 is the sensible floor for most amateurs who can turn a decent cadence. If you climb closer to threshold-limited than power-rich, or you simply want to spin the steep pitches rather than grind them, step down to 34×34. That extra range keeps your cadence off the floor when the road hits its steepest, protecting your legs across all 6.6 km. Undergearing here is a fast route to a blown climb.

Summary

Alto de La Pita is a genuine Category 1 test: short, steep, and unrelenting, with a 7.8% average that spikes to 16.24% and a full 513 m of climbing to conquer. Bring low gears, a measured start, and respect for the ramps.

Length: 6.6 km
Average gradient: 7.8%
Max gradient: 16.24%
Start: 144 m
Summit: 657 m
Net gain: 513 m
Total ascent: 475 m
Category: 1