Alto de las Vacas

Alto de las Vacas cycling climb profile

Alto de las Vacas is a short climb, but the numbers make it clear that it rides far harder than its 3.8 km length might suggest. An average gradient of 9.4% over that distance puts it firmly in the category of climbs where momentum disappears quickly and pacing errors are punished almost immediately.

The climb starts at 154 m and tops out at 513 m, with 359 m of net elevation gain. That vertical compression is the defining feature. There is not enough road for the effort to settle into a long alpine rhythm, but there is more than enough climbing to expose anyone who starts above threshold and hopes to survive on freshness.

How the gradient shapes the ride

With an average of 9.4% and a maximum gradient of 17.8%, Alto de las Vacas should be treated as a steep, punchy threshold-plus effort rather than a smooth tempo climb. The maximum gradient tells you the road contains ramps that will demand either a sharp increase in power or a willingness to let speed fall while keeping cadence controlled.

That matters because on a climb this short, the hardest sections can distort the whole effort. If you respond to every steep pitch by forcing the gear, you turn a manageable climb into repeated anaerobic spikes. Once that happens, the final portion becomes less about aerobic strength and more about damage control.

The better approach is to let the climb come to you. The average gradient is already high enough that there is no need to attack the lower slopes unless the goal is a maximal effort. Ride the opening minutes slightly under control, keep breathing stable, and save the real pressure for the point where the summit is close enough to justify spending what is left.

Pacing and gearing notes

For pacing, the key is restraint early and precision on the steepest ramps. A climb averaging 9.4% does not offer much free speed, so the first mistake is usually over-gearing. If cadence drops too low on the 17.8% sections, torque rises, muscle fatigue accumulates quickly, and the climb becomes harder than the average gradient suggests.

Practical approach:

• Start below your target climbing effort for the first part of the climb.
• Shift before the steepest ramps, not halfway through them.
• Accept a lower speed on the maximum-gradient pitches rather than chasing pace with a power spike.
• Build pressure only once the effort feels sustainable to the summit.

A compact or low climbing gear is the sensible choice here, especially for riders who prefer to stay seated. The gradient is steep enough that cadence preservation is not just comfort - it is pacing strategy. Riders using /glossary/ftp as a pacing anchor should avoid treating the full 3.8 km as a sprint unless they are specifically targeting a maximal climb effort.

Overall character

Alto de las Vacas is a category 2 climb because its difficulty comes from density: a lot of vertical gain packed into a short distance. It is not long enough to be a pure endurance test, but it is too steep to bluff. The rider who manages the early gradient, gears correctly for the 17.8% ramps, and saves a controlled surge for the final push will usually climb it faster than the rider who treats the opening kilometer as the decisive move.