Alto de Palmira

Overview

Alto de Palmira is a category-2 climb that packs a genuine challenge into a compact 6 km. From the base at 842 m, the road lifts you to a summit of 1219 m — a net gain of 377 m over the course of the effort. The average gradient sits at 6.32%, steep enough to keep you honest the whole way up but shallow enough that it never fully stalls a strong rider. With a maximum pitch of 9.32%, there is a sting waiting for anyone who overcooks the early kilometres.

At 6 km with a total ascent of 353 m, this is the kind of climb you can attack with real intent. It is long enough to matter and short enough to hurt, which is exactly the combination that makes category-2 ascents so rewarding to ride well.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is a 6.32% average, but averages hide the story. The gap between that mean and the 9.32% maximum is 3 percentage points, which tells you the road is not perfectly uniform — expect stretches that ease off and ramps that bite harder than the number on the sign.

Because the net gain of 377 m is slightly higher than the total ascent of 353 m, the profile trends consistently upward without meaningful descents to break your rhythm. That is good news for pacing and bad news for recovery: there is no free-wheeling section to shake out your legs. Treat the whole 6 km as one sustained effort, and save something for the steepest ramp near 9.32%.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this length, the winning move is discipline in the first two kilometres. Ride just under your threshold and let the gradient come to you rather than chasing a hero pace off the bottom.

A good target is to hold an effort right around your FTP for the sustained 6.32% sections, then dig in above it only when the road kicks toward 9.32%. If you do not know your number, run it through the FTP estimator before your next attempt — pacing a 6 km climb is far easier when you know exactly where your ceiling sits.

Aim for a steady cadence and even power. Over 353 m of ascent, small surges cost more than they return.

Gearing

For a 6 km climb averaging 6.32% with ramps to 9.32%, most riders will want a compact setup with a wide cassette. A 34×32 will handle the sustained gradient comfortably if you have strong legs and like to climb seated at a firm cadence.

If you would rather spin than grind — or you are carrying fatigue into the summit at 1219 m — a 34×34 gives you that extra rescue gear for the steepest pitch. Given the max of 9.32%, the 34×34 is the safer default for most amateurs, and you simply will not use the easiest sprocket if you do not need it.

Summary

Alto de Palmira is a tidy, honest category-2 test: 6 km of steady climbing with just enough gradient variation to keep it interesting. Pace the first half sensibly, gear low enough to spin the 9.32% ramp, and you will crest the top feeling strong rather than shattered.

Length: 6 km
Average gradient: 6.32%
Max gradient: 9.32%
Start: 842 m
Summit: 1219 m
Net gain: 377 m
Total ascent: 353 m
Category: 2