Alto de Monos

Overview

Alto de Monos is a long-haul category 1 climb that trades brutal steepness for relentless length. Over 34.3 km it lifts you from a valley floor at 512 m to a summit of 1962 m — a net gain of 1450 m — at an average gradient of 4.23%. On paper that average reads gentle, but 34.3 km is a long time to be climbing, and the number that matters most here is duration rather than any single ramp.

The category 1 rating (harder than a 2 or 3, but short of the hors catégorie monsters) is earned through accumulation. This is a climb you settle into rather than survive. With a maximum gradient of 11.33%, there are sharp moments, but they punctuate long stretches of shallower road rather than defining the effort.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The signature of Alto de Monos is the gap between its 4.23% average and its 11.33% maximum. That spread tells you the road is uneven: long shallow drags interrupted by short, sharp pitches. A steady 4.23% held for 34.3 km would be metronomic, but the real climb pulses between easy spinning and moments where the gradient nearly triples.

Notice too that total ascent (1566 m) exceeds net elevation gain (1450 m) by 116 m. That 116 m difference is climbing you do that the summit height never gives you credit for — false flats and small descents that force you to re-climb ground. Over a climb this long, those hidden metres add up, and they explain why the effort feels larger than the summit elevation alone suggests.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline beats bravado. The overall 4.23% average is comfortably sub-threshold terrain, so the winning strategy is to ride the shallow sections well within yourself and reserve your matches for the pitches that approach 11.33%.

Anchor your effort to your FTP. Aiming to sit a touch below threshold on the shallows, and only briefly nudging above it on the steep ramps, will get you to 1962 m with something left. If you don't have a current threshold figure, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go — 34.3 km is far too long to pace by feel alone. Start conservatively: the climb's length punishes anyone who burns matches in the first third.

Gearing

The length here demands gearing that lets you keep a high cadence for the long haul, plus enough range to survive the 11.33% pitches without grinding. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline.

A 34×32 will handle the bulk of the climb comfortably, giving you a spinnable ratio across the 4.23% stretches. But when the road bites toward 11.33% — after 34.3 km of climbing has already drained your legs — you'll be grateful for the extra relief of a 34×34. If your bike can take it, fit the 34×34 and treat the bailout cog as insurance against fatigue late in the effort.

Summary

Alto de Monos rewards patience over power: a long, uneven category 1 ascent where managing 34.3 km matters more than any single ramp. Pace it smart, gear it low, and let the summit come to you.

Length: 34.3 km
Average gradient: 4.23%
Max gradient: 11.33%
Start: 512 m
Summit: 1962 m
Net gain: 1450 m
Total ascent: 1566 m
Category: 1