Alto de Sabanas

Overview

Alto de Sabanas is a hors catégorie (HC) monster, the kind of ascent that rewrites your idea of what a "long climb" is. From a valley floor at 706 m, the road grinds upward for 26 km to a summit of 2752 m — a net elevation gain of 2046 m in a single, sustained effort. The average gradient of 7.86% tells only part of the story, because on a climb this length, the average is a number you never actually ride. You ride the sections that sit well above it, and you pay for the brief pitches that dip below.

At HC, Sabanas is categorised beyond the 1–4 scale entirely. There is no harder label. The combination of raw length, a genuinely steep mean gradient, and a summit that pierces into altitude puts it among the most demanding climbs you can point a bike at.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline numbers frame the challenge: 26 km, 7.86% average, and a max of 19.06%. That maximum is nearly two and a half times the average, which means the climb is not evenly graded — it punches. Total ascent of 2031 m sits just below the net gain of 2046 m, a small 15 m difference that tells you this is an almost relentlessly upward road with virtually no descending or false-flat relief to break the rhythm.

Expect the gradient to oscillate around the high-7% mark for long stretches, punctuated by ramps that spike toward that 19.06% ceiling. On a shorter climb you could stand and power over those; here, with kilometres still stacked ahead, every spike drains a reserve you need to protect.

Pacing Notes

The single biggest mistake on Sabanas is starting too hard. Over 26 km, discipline beats bravado every time. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below it on the sustained sections, saving headroom for the ramps toward 19.06%. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan.

Because the summit sits at 2752 m, altitude compounds fatigue in the final kilometres — the same power costs more as the air thins. Ride the first two-thirds conservatively so you have something left when both the gradient and the elevation are working against you.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. A 7.86% average sustained for 26 km, with pitches to 19.06%, demands a wide, forgiving cassette. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 34×32 is a sensible floor for strong climbers, but most riders will be far happier with a 34×34 to keep cadence up and knees intact on the steepest ramps. When in doubt, take the easier gear — spinning a 34×34 up a wall beats grinding a 34×32 to a standstill.

Summary

Alto de Sabanas is a full-day objective: 26 relentless kilometres, a 7.86% average that never lets up, and 2046 m of vertical between the 706 m start and the 2752 m summit. Pace it with respect, gear it generously, and let the mountain come to you.

Length: 26 km
Average gradient: 7.86%
Max gradient: 19.06%
Start: 706 m
Summit: 2752 m
Net gain: 2046 m
Total ascent: 2031 m
Category: HC