Alto de La Tetona

Overview

Alto de La Tetona is short on paper and merciless in reality. Over just 3.2 km it averages a savage 10.1%, dragging you from a start elevation of 722 m to a summit at 1044 m. That is a net gain of 322 m packed into a climb you could ride the length of in under half an hour if it were flat — which it emphatically is not. Rated category 2, La Tetona is the kind of ascent where the number that matters most is not the distance but the gradient, which barely dips below double digits from bottom to top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

There is no gentle introduction here. With an average of 10.1% and a maximum of 11.61%, the spread between "easy" and "hard" on this climb is remarkably narrow — the whole thing sits in a tight, punishing band. The total ascent of 286 m against a net gain of 322 m tells you the road climbs relentlessly upward with very little relief; there are almost no false flats or descents to recover the pace. Expect to hold a steep grade continuously, with the steepest ramps nudging toward that 11.61% ceiling. On a wall this consistent, the danger is not one hero pitch but the fact that it simply never eases. You climb the full 322 m without a place to hide.

Pacing Notes

The discipline on La Tetona is starting slower than your legs want. At 10.1% average over 3.2 km, going out hard means blowing before the summit at 1044 m, and there is no flat section to recover on. Ride to your FTP and hold a steady, sustainable effort rather than surging — a climb this uniform rewards a metronome, not a hero. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you attempt a proper time. A useful mental model: this is a single, uninterrupted threshold-or-above block for the whole 3.2 km, so pick a power you can defend for the entire 322 m of climbing and refuse to exceed it early.

Gearing

Gear for survival, not for pride. On a climb averaging 10.1% with pitches at 11.61%, most riders will want the widest cassette they can fit. A compact chainset with a 34×32 is the sensible minimum here, giving you a low enough ratio to keep cadence when the road bites. If you have the legs of a mortal rather than a professional, step up to 34×34 — the extra sprocket buys you cadence and saves your knees over the sustained 322 m of ascent. There is no shame in spinning; on a wall this steep, a bailout gear is the difference between riding the whole thing and walking.

Summary

Alto de La Tetona is a pure test of climbing strength: brief, brutal, and unrelenting. Respect the 10.1% average, pace off your threshold, gear low, and let the summit at 1044 m come to you.

Length: 3.2 km
Average gradient: 10.1%
Max gradient: 11.61%
Start: 722 m
Summit: 1044 m
Net gain: 322 m
Total ascent: 286 m
Category: 2