Alto de La Teta

Overview

Alto de La Teta is a climb that does not negotiate. Over 20.1 km it averages 9.11%, and it does so while lifting you from a start elevation of 1545 m to a summit at 3378 m. That is a net elevation gain of 1833 m and a total ascent of 1822 m, numbers that place this firmly in the HC (hors catégorie) bracket — the hardest rating there is, sitting above categories 1 through 4. An average of 9.11% sustained across a distance this long is brutal even before you factor in the altitude, and with a maximum gradient of 22.05% there are moments where the road simply rears up in front of you.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is relentlessness. A 9.11% average over 20.1 km leaves almost nowhere to recover, and because the net gain (1833 m) is essentially the same as the total ascent (1822 m), there are no meaningful descents to break the rhythm — you climb, and you keep climbing. The gap between the 9.11% average and the 22.05% maximum tells you the ramps are steep and frequent rather than isolated. Expect long stretches hovering near or above the average, punctuated by pitches that push well into the high teens and beyond. The final kilometres are the hardest, because by then you are above 3000 m and every percent of gradient costs more oxygen than it would lower down.

Pacing Notes

The single biggest mistake on a climb like this is starting too hard. With 20.1 km ahead of you and an average of 9.11%, the effort must be metered from the very first pedal stroke. Anchor your pacing to your FTP and aim to sit just below it on the sustained sections, saving headroom for the 22.05% spikes where power will naturally surge. Remember that thin air near the 3378 m summit meaningfully reduces the power you can hold, so the effort that feels sustainable at 1545 m will feel far harder near the top — plan to fade the target, not chase it. If you are not sure what your threshold actually is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan.

Gearing

Gear for survival, not pride. On a climb averaging 9.11% with ramps to 22.05%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections, but on the steepest pitches — and especially in the oxygen-starved final kilometres above 3000 m — you will want the extra relief of a 34×34. If your frame and derailleur can accommodate anything larger, take it; there is no shame in spinning on a climb with 1822 m of total ascent. The goal is to keep your cadence high enough to protect your legs across the full 20.1 km.

Summary

Alto de La Teta is a genuine test of endurance: long, unbroken, and steep from bottom to top, finishing in the thin air above 3378 m. Respect the distance, gear low, pace to your threshold, and let the mountain come to you.

Length: 20.1 km
Average gradient: 9.11%
Max gradient: 22.05%
Start: 1545 m
Summit: 3378 m
Net gain: 1833 m
Total ascent: 1822 m
Category: HC