Alto de la Taza

Overview

Alto de la Taza is a long, patient climb rather than an explosive one. Over 16.1 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 1254 m to a summit of 1788 m, a net gain of 534 m, with total ascent measured at 513 m. The average gradient of 3.33% keeps this firmly in category 3 territory: never savage, but relentless in the way that only a sixteen-kilometre climb can be. You begin already high above sea level, and by the top you are pushing toward 1788 m, where the thinner air quietly adds to the effort. This is a climb that rewards rhythm and honesty with your own pace.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is 3.33%, but averages flatten the truth. With a maximum gradient of 7.14%, the road clearly stiffens in places to more than double its mean. Expect the profile to breathe: shallow drags where you can hold speed, punctuated by ramps that briefly bite toward that 7.14% ceiling. Because net gain (534 m) slightly exceeds total ascent (513 m), the climbing is almost entirely one direction, with little to no descending to break the effort. That consistency is the defining feature. There are no long false flats to recover on and no cruel walls to survive, just a steady upward tilt that occasionally sharpens and then relaxes again.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this length, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your sustainable threshold rather than the ramps. A useful reference is your FTP: aim to ride the steady 3.33% sections comfortably below it, holding a little in reserve for the pitches that lift toward 7.14%. Surging over every steepening will cost you dearly across 16.1 km. If you do not know your threshold, estimate it first with the FTP estimator, then pick a target you can defend for the full duration. The altitude matters too: climbing toward 1788 m, your ceiling drops slightly, so treat perceived exertion as your most honest gauge on the day.

Gearing

The moderate average is forgiving, but the length and the 7.14% ramps still argue for range, especially given the altitude. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible default. A 34×32 will handle the bulk of Alto de la Taza well, letting you spin the steady sections and stay seated through most of the ramps. If you climb at a lower cadence, carry a heavier body, or simply want insurance for tired legs late in the effort, step up to a 34×34. Both leave you spinning rather than grinding, which is exactly what a sustained category 3 effort demands.

Summary

Alto de la Taza is a rhythm climber's climb: long, steady, and honest. Meter it out from the 1254 m base, respect the ramps toward 7.14%, and you will crest the 1788 m summit with legs intact.

Length: 16.1 km
Average gradient: 3.33%
Max gradient: 7.14%
Start: 1254 m
Summit: 1788 m
Net gain: 534 m
Total ascent: 513 m
Category: 3