Alto de Pavas

Overview

Alto de Pavas is a category 2 climb that packs a consistent, honest effort into 6.9 km of road. From a start elevation of 305 m it lifts you to a summit of 723 m, giving a net elevation gain of 418 m. The average gradient sits at 6.04%, which is the kind of number that tells you exactly what to expect: no flat recovery to hide behind, but nothing savage enough to blow you apart early either. With a maximum gradient of 7.63%, the steepest ramps stay within reach of a rider who paces smartly. This is a climb you can settle into and ride at a rhythm, and that steadiness is precisely what makes it worth respecting.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Pavas is its uniformity. An average of 6.04% against a maximum of only 7.63% means the road never spikes far above what you feel on a typical stretch — the gap between the mean and the peak is barely more than a percent and a half. There are no walls that force you out of the saddle in panic, and no false flats that let you coast. Note also that the total ascent of 384 m is slightly less than the net gain of 418 m, a small quirk that reflects how the elevation profile is measured. In practical terms, treat this as a climb where the gradient you see is very close to the gradient you get, top to bottom.

Pacing Notes

Because the slope is so even, Pavas rewards a disciplined, threshold-based effort more than most. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: a climb of this length and consistency is close to an ideal test of sustained power, so aim to hold a steady percentage of that number rather than surging on the ramps and fading between them. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you attempt a target time. At 6.9 km, the effort is long enough that going out too hard in the first kilometre will cost you dearly by the summit at 723 m. Start a touch conservative, then lift the pace once you've read your legs.

Gearing

For a 6.9 km climb averaging 6.04% with pitches to 7.63%, a compact setup with a wide-range cassette is the sensible default. A 34×32 will get most trained riders up comfortably while keeping a workable cadence on the steeper sections. If you tend to grind, carry extra fatigue, or simply prefer to spin, step up to a 34×34 for a little more insurance near the top. Neither the length nor the gradient here demands anything more exotic — the goal is simply to keep your cadence high enough that you're pacing on your aerobic system rather than muscling each pedal stroke.

Summary

Alto de Pavas is a fair, rhythmic category 2 climb that rewards even pacing and a well-chosen gear. It won't surprise you — and that's its charm.

Length: 6.9 km
Average gradient: 6.04%
Max gradient: 7.63%
Start: 305 m
Summit: 723 m
Net gain: 418 m
Total ascent: 384 m
Category: 2