Alto de La Risca

Overview

The Alto de La Risca is a compact, high-altitude test: just 3 km long, yet it climbs the whole way through thin mountain air. You start at 1218 m — already high enough that your legs and lungs will notice — and finish on a 1388 m summit, a net gain of 170 m. At a 5.71% average gradient, it sits firmly in category 4 territory: not a monster, but steep enough to sting when you push. Over such a short distance there is nowhere to hide and no long false-flat to recover on. This is a climb you attack rather than survive, and the rider who paces the opening ramps well will crest it with plenty in reserve.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not let the modest 5.71% average lull you. The maximum gradient reaches 7.47%, so the steepest sections run well above the mean — the difference between the two is 1.76 percentage points of extra bite exactly where it hurts. Because the road only runs 3 km, those steeper pitches arrive quickly and cannot be waited out. Expect the gradient to hover around the average for much of the ascent, then rear up toward that 7.47% peak on the sharpest ramp. With 170 m of net gain packed into so little distance, the climbing is relentless rather than rolling: once you are on it, you stay on it until the summit.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short, pacing is about restraint at the bottom and commitment near the top. Ride the first third at an effort you could hold for far longer than 3 km, then let the pace build as the summit approaches. A useful anchor is your FTP: on a category-4 ascent of this length you can afford to ride at or slightly above it, since the whole effort will be over in minutes rather than the better part of an hour. If you are unsure of your number, run it through the FTP estimator first, then set your target watts before you hit the lower ramps. The one trap is the 7.47% pitch — surge too hard early and it will find you out. Save a match for it, and hold form as the gradient eases toward the 1388 m top.

Gearing

For a 3 km climb averaging 5.71% with pitches to 7.47%, you do not need extreme low gearing, but the altitude and the punchy ramps reward a little extra range. A 34×32 bottom gear is enough for most fit riders to spin comfortably over the steepest section without grinding. If you prefer to keep a high cadence, are carrying fatigue from a longer day, or simply like an insurance gear in reserve, a 34×34 gives you that cushion for the 7.47% pitch. Either setup lets you stay seated and rhythmic; the goal is a smooth, sustainable cadence rather than a hero-mode mash to the summit.

Summary

The Alto de La Risca is a short, honest climb: 3 km of steady work at high altitude, with a steep pitch to test your legs before the 1388 m summit. Pace the start, respect the 7.47% ramp, and it rewards you with a clean, satisfying tick.

Length: 3 km
Average gradient: 5.71%
Max gradient: 7.47%
Start: 1218 m
Summit: 1388 m
Net gain: 170 m
Total ascent: 149 m
Category: 4