Alto de los Gomez

Overview

Alto de los Gomez is an hors catégorie climb, the hardest rating on the scale that runs HC, 1, 2, 3, 4. Over 16.5 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 784 m to a summit of 1998 m — a net gain of 1214 m, with 1202 m of that arriving as measured ascent. The average gradient sits at 7.34%, but that headline figure hides the real character: a maximum pitch of 24.07% means this is not a climb you settle into and forget. It demands respect from the base to the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 7.34% average across 16.5 km is relentless on its own terms — there is little flat here to hide the elevation gain of 1214 m. What defines the climb, though, is the spread between that average and the 24.07% maximum. When the road tilts more than three times steeper than the mean, your rhythm gets torn apart. Expect the shape to swing between sustained grinding sections around the average and sharp, standing-effort ramps that spike toward that 24.07% wall. The gap between 7.34% and 24.07% is the story: it tells you the climb hands you moments of relative relief and then claws them straight back.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. With 16.5 km ahead and 1214 m to gain, the fastest riders are the ones who ride the steady sections just under threshold and save their reserves for the 24.07% pitches. Anchor your effort to your FTP: hold the sustained gradients at a percentage you can defend for well over an hour, then accept short surges above it on the steepest ramps rather than trying to cap your power there. If you do not know your number, run the FTP estimator first, then set target zones for the shallow, average, and steep thirds of the ascent. Blow past your ceiling early on the lower slopes and the back half of this HC monster will collect the debt with interest.

Gearing

Gear for the maximum, not the average. A 7.34% mean is manageable with standard climbing gears, but the 24.07% spikes are what strand riders. On a compact setup, a 34×32 is the floor — workable if your FTP-to-weight is strong and your legs are fresh. For most riders tackling 16.5 km and 1214 m of gain, a 34×34 buys the cadence headroom that keeps your knees and your composure intact when the road rears up. If you can fit an even wider cassette, take it; spinning the steep ramps beats grinding them to a standstill.

Summary

Alto de los Gomez is a genuine HC test: long, steep, and spiky, with a 24.07% sting to keep you honest across all 16.5 km. Pace to your FTP, gear low, and treat the 1214 m of climbing as a budget to spend wisely.

Length: 16.5 km
Average gradient: 7.34%
Max gradient: 24.07%
Start: 784 m
Summit: 1998 m
Net gain: 1214 m
Total ascent: 1202 m
Category: HC