Alto de Los Leones

Overview

Alto de Los Leones is a category 2 climb that rewards riders who can hold a rhythm at altitude. Over its 8.5 km it averages 6.32%, lifting you from a start elevation of 1624 m to a summit at 2163 m. That works out to a net elevation gain of 539 m, with a total ascent of 526 m once the small dips along the way are accounted for. The gradient never lets go entirely, and with a maximum pitch of 11.2% there are moments that demand a genuine change of gear rather than a change of cadence.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency. An average of 6.32% across 8.5 km means there are no long flat reprieves to coast through, and the difference between the net gain of 539 m and the total ascent of 526 m tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly upward rather than rolling. The steepest sections spike to 11.2%, nearly double the average, so expect the road to periodically stiffen well beyond its baseline. On a climb like this the danger is not one brutal wall but the accumulation: kilometre after kilometre at a punishing-but-rideable slope, thinning air as you push past 2000 m toward the 2163 m summit.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient is so even, Alto de Los Leones is a climb best ridden to a target effort rather than to the terrain. Anchor your pace to your FTP and hold a percentage of it you can sustain for the full 8.5 km — the 6.32% average makes this an honest, threshold-style effort. If you are unsure of your number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you start. The key mistake is going too hard on the early ramps and paying for it near the top, where the altitude of the 2163 m summit compounds the fatigue. When the road bites toward 11.2%, let cadence drop rather than watts spike, then settle back once the pitch eases toward the average.

Gearing

With 8.5 km at 6.32% and ramps to 11.2% at real altitude, gear generously. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to spin the steady sections without grinding. If you tend to climb at a lower cadence, or you know you fade toward the 2163 m summit, step up to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket is cheap insurance against the 11.2% pitches late in the climb when your legs are already deep into the effort. There is no shame in the easier gear here; the smoothest climbers are the ones who keep their legs turning.

Summary

Alto de Los Leones is a steady, honest category 2 climb: long enough to hurt, even enough to reward disciplined pacing, and just steep enough in places to punish anyone who ignores their gearing. Ride it to your effort, respect the altitude, and let the 6.32% average do the talking.

Length: 8.5 km
Average gradient: 6.32%
Max gradient: 11.2%
Start: 1624 m
Summit: 2163 m
Net gain: 539 m
Total ascent: 526 m
Category: 2