Alto de la Rosa

Overview

Alto de la Rosa is a Category 2 climb that covers 8.2 km at an average gradient of 5.6%. It starts at 988 m and tops out at 1445 m, a net elevation gain of 457 m across a total ascent of 442 m. That length-to-gradient balance puts it squarely in sustained-tempo territory: long enough to matter, steady enough to settle into, but with a sting near the top where the road bites up to 10.68%.

At just over eight kilometres with a moderate average, this is the kind of climb that rewards riders who can hold a rhythm. It is not a wall you muscle over, nor a shallow drag you can spin away — it sits in the demanding middle, where pacing discipline separates a strong ride from a blown one.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is 5.6%, but averages hide the story. With a maximum pitch of 10.68% — nearly double the average — the climb is clearly uneven. Expect the road to trade easier sections that dip below the mean for steeper ramps that push well above it.

The gap between the 457 m net gain and the 442 m of total ascent is small, which tells you the climb is almost entirely uphill with little to no relief or false descent. You are gaining altitude nearly the whole way. Plan for the steepest efforts to arrive where they hurt most: the closer you get to that 1445 m summit, the more a 10.68% ramp on tired legs will cost you.

Pacing Notes

Treat the 5.6% average as your baseline and your steeper sections as controlled surges rather than all-out efforts. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: on a climb of this length, aiming to sit near threshold on the average grade and dipping just above it on the 10.68% pitches keeps you from redlining early.

If you are not sure what power you can sustain, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride. Knowing your threshold turns an 8.2 km climb from a guessing game into a manageable, repeatable effort — you meter the easy kilometres so you have something left when the gradient jumps.

Gearing

For a Category 2 climb topping out at 10.68%, give yourself margin. A compact chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible default here. A 34×32 setup will handle the 5.6% average comfortably and let most riders survive the steepest ramps at a workable cadence.

If your legs run out of torque on double-digit pitches, or you simply prefer to spin, step up to 34×34. The extra sprocket costs you almost nothing on the flatter stretches and buys real breathing room when the road hits 10.68% near the 1445 m summit. Err toward the easier gear — you can always leave it unused.

Summary

Alto de la Rosa is a well-rounded Category 2 test: 8.2 km of steady climbing at 5.6%, with a 10.68% maximum that keeps you honest to the top. Pace it against your FTP, gear it for the ramps, and you will crest the 457 m of gain with something in reserve.

Length: 8.2 km
Average gradient: 5.6%
Max gradient: 10.68%
Start: 988 m
Summit: 1445 m
Net gain: 457 m
Total ascent: 442 m
Category: 2