Alto de los Laureles

Alto de los Laureles cycling climb profile

Alto de los Laureles is a serious climbing effort by any practical measure: 14.7 km long, an average gradient of 8.86%, and a summit at 2456 m after starting at 1150 m. That combination makes it more than a steep road. It is an HC ascent because it stacks duration, gradient, and vertical gain into one sustained demand.

The key number is not the maximum gradient of 16.88%, although that matters. The real difficulty is that the climb averages close to 9% for nearly 15 km. A road can only produce that average if the pressure is consistently high, even before the steepest pitches are considered. This is not a climb to ride on momentum or repeated accelerations. It rewards riders who can hold controlled torque for a long time without letting the steeper ramps push them over their limit.

How the gradient unfolds

From the bottom at 1150 m to the summit at 2456 m, Alto de los Laureles gains 1306 m of elevation. The supplied profile data does not break the climb into individual sectors, so the safest reading is that the ascent should be treated as continuously demanding rather than split into a known easy opening or decisive final section.

The average gradient of 8.86% sets the baseline: most of the climb has to feel like real climbing, not false flat or rolling terrain. The maximum gradient of 16.88% then adds the tactical problem. Even if those steeper pitches are short, they are steep enough to force a cadence drop if the gearing is too ambitious. If they arrive after fatigue has built, they become much more expensive than the raw number suggests.

Pacing strategy

The main mistake is starting as if the climb is only about the steep ramps. It is not. The decisive factor is the full 14.7 km workload. Settle early into a sustainable climbing effort, ideally just below the point where breathing and leg tension start to spike. If you ride by power, this is the type of climb where discipline around /glossary/ftp matters more than chasing speed.

A useful approach:

• Start conservatively while the climb establishes its rhythm.
• Keep pressure steady on the 8.86% average sections.
• Treat any ramps near 16.88% as damage-control zones, not places to prove form.
• Avoid surges unless the summit is close enough that you can absorb the cost.

Gearing notes

Bring a climbing gear that lets you stay seated and keep cadence under control on a sustained near-9% grade, with enough range left for pitches approaching 17%. If your easiest gear only feels comfortable on moderate climbs, it is likely too heavy here.

The practical goal is simple: protect the legs from repeated low-cadence grinding. On Alto de los Laureles, the gradient is already high enough that muscular fatigue can accumulate before cardiovascular fatigue feels decisive. Good gearing keeps the effort aerobic for longer and gives you options when the road steepens.

This is a climb where restraint is not defensive. It is the fastest way to reach the summit without paying heavily for the first half of the ascent.