Alto de los Corrales

Overview

Alto de los Corrales is a short, sharp category-3 climb that rewards riders who commit early and hold their form to the top. It measures just 2.7 km, but the numbers underneath that length tell you this is no gentle warm-up. The average gradient sits at 6.76%, steep enough that you feel the pull from the first pedal stroke, and the road ramps to a maximum of 9.32% where the climbing bites hardest.

You start at 1150 m and finish at 1332 m, a net gain of 182 m. That already places you in thinner mountain air, and the total ascent of 159 m over the effort means there is very little respite once the gradient sets in. It is a concentrated, honest climb: everything happens inside those 2.7 km.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 6.76% average across 2.7 km, this is a consistently demanding climb rather than one defined by a single wall. The 9.32% maximum is only a couple of points above the average, which tells you the road rarely eases into anything flat or false-flat. Instead of long recovery stretches, you get a steady grind punctuated by pitches that edge toward and past the maximum.

The gap between the 182 m net gain and the 159 m total ascent is small, confirming that the road climbs almost the whole way with no meaningful descents to interrupt your rhythm. Practically, that means you should treat the entire 2.7 km as one sustained effort. Where the gradient nudges toward 9.32%, shift down early and protect your cadence rather than muscling over the steepest sections.

Pacing Notes

Because Alto de los Corrales is short and steep, the temptation is to attack from the bottom. Resist it. At 2.7 km you can afford to start firm, but blowing up on a 9.32% ramp with distance still to climb is a costly mistake.

Ride this one relative to your FTP. A climb of roughly this duration is well suited to an effort at or slightly above threshold, so aim to sit just below your limit through the 6.76% stretches and dig in only when the road steepens. If you are unsure of your threshold power, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so you have a target wattage before you reach the base.

Keep your effort even. On a climb this compact, a steady 6.76% is easier to pace than it looks, provided you do not empty the tank on the first ramp.

Gearing

For a 2.7 km climb averaging 6.76% and touching 9.32%, most riders will want a compact setup with a generous cassette. A 34×32 is a sensible baseline and will get many riders over the steepest pitches while keeping cadence respectable.

If you are carrying fatigue, riding at altitude near 1332 m, or simply prefer to spin, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket makes the 9.32% sections far more manageable and lets you hold a smooth cadence rather than grinding. Given the climb tops out above 1300 m, the easier gearing is worth having even if you rarely need it.

Summary

Alto de los Corrales packs a genuine mountain effort into 2.7 km: steep, sustained, and unforgiving of a poor start. Pace it to your threshold, gear it for the ramps, and it becomes a satisfying category-3 test rather than a survival exercise.

Length: 2.7 km
Average gradient: 6.76%
Max gradient: 9.32%
Start: 1150 m
Summit: 1332 m
Net gain: 182 m
Total ascent: 159 m
Category: 3