Alto de Pinas

Overview

Alto de Pinas is a short, approachable climb that rewards rhythm over raw power. Over 3.6 km it lifts you from 1066 m to a summit of 1183 m, a net gain of 117 m. Rated category 4 — the gentlest of the categorized tiers below 1, 2, 3 and the fearsome HC — it is the kind of ascent that suits tempo riders, beginners building confidence, and anyone looking to log honest vertical without a summit that bites back. The average gradient of 3.23% keeps the effort conversational, and with a max of just 4.77%, there is no wall waiting to break your cadence.

How the Gradient Unfolds

This is a remarkably even climb. With an average of 3.23% and a maximum of only 4.77%, the difference between the typical slope and the steepest pitch is barely over one and a half percent — so the road never dramatically changes character. Expect a consistent, low-single-digit grade from base to top. The total ascent of 103 m sits just under the 117 m net gain, which tells you the profile is almost entirely uphill with only the slightest undulation; there is no meaningful descending or false-flat recovery to break the effort. What you feel at the bottom is essentially what you feel at the top: a steady, manageable ramp.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient stays so tame, Alto de Pinas is best ridden as a single sustained effort rather than a series of surges. Settle into a pace you can hold comfortably below your FTP — think endurance-to-tempo intensity — and let the even slope do the work of metering your output. On a 3.6 km climb with a max of 4.77%, spiking your power early buys you nothing; the road simply is not steep enough to require it, and you will only arrive at the summit more fatigued than you need to be. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then target a wattage a touch under that figure and hold it steady the whole way up. Riders chasing a personal best can afford to lift the effort in the final stretch, since the modest 117 m of climbing leaves plenty in the tank.

Gearing

For a climb this gentle, most riders will barely dip into their easiest cogs. A standard compact setup handles Alto de Pinas with ease: a 34×32 gives you all the range you need to spin comfortably up a 4.77% maximum without grinding. If you prefer to sit and twiddle, or you are carrying fatigue from a longer day, a 34×34 adds a little extra insurance and keeps your cadence high on the steadiest pitches. Either way, you will likely spend most of the climb in the middle of your cassette rather than the bottom — the gradient never demands the bailout gear, so choose whichever setup lets you hold a relaxed, sustainable rhythm.

Summary

Alto de Pinas is a friendly, well-mannered climb: short, steady, and never steep enough to hurt. Its even 3.23% slope and 117 m of gain make it ideal for building form or warming into a bigger ride.

Length: 3.6 km
Average gradient: 3.23%
Max gradient: 4.77%
Start: 1066 m
Summit: 1183 m
Net gain: 117 m
Total ascent: 103 m
Category: 4