Alto de los Toros

Overview

Alto de los Toros is a Category 2 ascent that runs for 14.4 km at an average gradient of 5.1%. From a base at 959 m it lifts you to a summit of 1696 m, a net elevation gain of 737 m. Because the road undulates rather than climbing in a single unbroken line, the total ascent comes to 801 m — the extra 64 m over the net figure tells you there are dips and false flats mixed into the profile. It is not the fiercest category (that honour belongs to HC and Category 1 climbs), but at nearly a quarter of the length spent gaining altitude, it demands honest, sustained effort.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number, 5.1%, is comfortably in the tempo range — the kind of grade you can ride seated and rhythmic for long stretches. But averages hide the story. With a maximum pitch of 10.22%, this climb roughly doubles its own average at its steepest, so expect the effort to swing between cruising and grinding. The gap between the 801 m of total ascent and the 737 m net gain confirms the road gives a little back along the way: short descents or flatter shelves that reset your legs before the next rise. Treat the shallow sections as recovery, not as an invitation to overspend, because the double-digit ramps are where a poorly judged pace unravels.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride 14.4 km at 5.1% is to anchor your effort to a power target rather than chasing the gradient. Hold a steady percentage of your FTP through the tempo sections and let your power drift up only when the road tips toward 10.22%, then settle straight back down once it eases. Over 737 m of net climbing, the riders who blow up are almost always the ones who surge on every ramp. If you are unsure of your threshold number, run the FTP estimator first so your targets are grounded in real data. Aim to crest the 1696 m summit with something left, not empty.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 5.1% with ramps to 10.22%, a compact setup is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 lowest gear will keep most riders spinning comfortably through the tempo stretches and get them over the steepest 10.22% pitches without grinding to a crawl. If you carry extra weight, ride at altitude near 1696 m, or simply prefer a higher cadence on long efforts, step up to a 34×34 for a genuine bail-out gear on the hardest ramps. The extra range costs nothing on the flatter shelves and buys real insurance across the full 14.4 km.

Summary

Alto de los Toros rewards discipline: ride the 5.1% average as tempo, respect the 10.22% ramps, and use the road's built-in dips to recover on the way to 1696 m. A compact 34×32 or 34×34 keeps the whole 737 m of climbing manageable.

Length: 14.4 km
Average gradient: 5.1%
Max gradient: 10.22%
Start: 959 m
Summit: 1696 m
Net gain: 737 m
Total ascent: 801 m
Category: 2