Alto de Piscuno

Overview

Alto de Piscuno is a category 1 climb that asks a specific kind of question: can you hold a steady effort for 13.6 km while the air keeps getting thinner? It starts high — 3090 m — and finishes higher still at 3966 m, a net gain of 876 m over its full length. The average gradient sits at 6.46%, a number that reads as "sustained" rather than "savage," and with a max of 13.16% the climb never fully lets you off the hook but never buries you either. It is a rhythm climb at altitude, and the altitude is the twist.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is honest. With 876 m of net gain across 13.6 km and an average of 6.46%, the climb is broadly consistent — there are no long false flats to recover on and no vicious walls to survive. The total ascent of 858 m tracks closely with the net gain, telling you the road climbs almost the entire way with very little give-back; you are essentially always going up. The 13.16% max gradient is the outlier, a single steeper pinch roughly twice the average, and the smart move is to spot it coming and not blow your composure chasing it. Everything else clusters near that 6.46% mean, so once you find a cadence you can ride it for a long time.

Pacing Notes

At this length and gradient, Piscuno is an FTP climb — the effort lasts long enough that anaerobic heroics won't save you. Ride it just under threshold and let the steady 6.46% do the metering. The real complication is elevation: starting at 3090 m and topping out at 3966 m, your usable power will be down compared to sea level, so pace on feel and breathing as much as on numbers. If you don't know your threshold, run the FTP estimator first, then shave a little off the target to respect the thin air. Bank nothing on the early kilometres — the last stretch above 3900 m is where a too-hot start comes due.

Gearing

For a 13.6 km climb averaging 6.46% with a 13.16% ceiling — and doing it near 3966 m where every pedal stroke costs more — favour spin over grind. A compact 34-tooth front paired with a 34×32 cassette is a sensible baseline for strong riders who want to keep cadence up on the steady sections. If you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude for the first time, or simply want insurance for that 13.16% pinch, go to 34×34. The extra sprocket costs you almost nothing and keeps your knees and lungs happy when the oxygen runs short near the summit.

Summary

Alto de Piscuno is a long, consistent, high-altitude category 1 climb where patience and gearing matter more than raw punch. Meter the 6.46% average, respect the 13.16% pinch, and let the thin air set your ceiling.

Length: 13.6 km
Average gradient: 6.46%
Max gradient: 13.16%
Start: 3090 m
Summit: 3966 m
Net gain: 876 m
Total ascent: 858 m
Category: 1