Alto de sacachova

Overview

Alto de sacachova is a hors catégorie climb, the hardest classification on the road, and it earns the rating honestly. Over 24.7 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 1183 m to a summit at 2733 m, a net gain of 1550 m with 1535 m of total ascent. The average gradient of 6.28% is steady on paper, but this is a long-haul effort where the challenge is as much about time in the saddle as it is about raw steepness. At nearly 25 kilometres, sacachova is the kind of climb you settle into rather than attack.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is 6.28% average, but the 15.59% maximum tells you the road is not uniform. With total ascent of 1535 m spread across 24.7 km, long stretches sit close to the average, punctuated by ramps that push well into double digits. Because net gain (1550 m) slightly exceeds total ascent (1535 m), there is almost no descending or false-flat relief along the way — nearly every metre is climbing metres, and the road trends relentlessly upward the entire distance. The gap between the 6.28% average and the 15.59% peak is where the climb bites: expect passages that force you well above your steady rhythm before the grade eases back toward the mean.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something in reserve for the 15.59% ramps, where the temptation to surge will spike your power and cost you dearly over the remaining kilometres. A good target is to sit just under threshold on the steady 6.28% sections, then let your power rise briefly on the steep pitches and settle back down as the grade relaxes.

If you are unsure where your threshold sits, use the FTP estimator to dial in a realistic number before you commit to the full 24.7 km. Fuelling matters here too — an effort measured in tens of minutes to well over an hour needs a steady drip of carbohydrate, not a single big hit near the top.

Gearing

For a 24.7 km HC climb with pitches to 15.59%, gear for the steep sections, not the average. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the steady 6.28% grades, but on the 15.59% ramps late in a 1550 m ascent, that ratio can leave you grinding at an unsustainable cadence. If your legs will already be deep from the earlier kilometres, a 34×34 gives you the extra spin you will want to keep cadence up and protect your knees on the hardest pitches. When in doubt on a climb this long, choose the easier gear — you can always stay seated and turn it lightly.

Summary

Alto de sacachova is a true HC test: nearly 25 kilometres of climbing, a summit at 2733 m, and steep ramps that break up an otherwise steady 6.28% average. Pace it by your threshold, gear it for the 15.59% pitches, and respect the 1550 m you have to earn.

Length: 24.7 km
Average gradient: 6.28%
Max gradient: 15.59%
Start: 1183 m
Summit: 2733 m
Net gain: 1550 m
Total ascent: 1535 m
Category: HC