Alto de Santa Cruz

Overview

Alto de Santa Cruz is a long, patient category 2 climb that rewards rhythm over aggression. It runs for 18.7 km and averages a moderate 3.91%, lifting you from a start elevation of 198 m to a summit of 928 m. That works out to 730 m of net elevation gain, with a total ascent of 731 m — the extra metre a hint that the road is not perfectly monotonic. This is a climb you settle into, not one you attack. At nearly nineteen kilometres, it is more of an endurance test than a lung-searing wall, and the category 2 rating reflects that blend of length and manageable steepness rather than raw brutality.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is a gentle-sounding 3.91%, but averages flatten out a lot of variation. With a max gradient of 10.9%, there are pitches here well over double the average, so the climb is far from uniform. The near-identical figures for net gain (730 m) and total ascent (731 m) tell you the road climbs almost continuously — there is essentially no descending to recover on, just one extra metre of up-and-down across the whole 18.7 km. Expect long stretches sitting comfortably below the average, punctuated by steeper ramps that spike toward that 10.9% maximum. Reading the road ahead matters: knowing when a shallow drag gives way to a double-digit kick lets you shift and stand before your cadence collapses.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline early pays dividends late. Aim to hold a steady effort around or just under your threshold, and let the steep ramps push you briefly above it rather than starting hot. Your FTP is the anchor here: target roughly 85–90% of it on the sustained sections, saving the redline for the pitches approaching 10.9%. If you do not know your threshold yet, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your effort — pacing 18.7 km blind is a fast way to blow up two-thirds of the way to 928 m. With 730 m to gain, even a small overcook in the first few kilometres compounds badly.

Gearing

For an 18.7 km climb averaging 3.91% but spiking to 10.9%, gearing generously is the smart call — you want to spin the ramps, not grind them. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is ideal. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections comfortably, but for the steepest pitches near the 10.9% maximum — especially with fatigue setting in after a dozen kilometres — a 34×34 gives you the extra bailout to keep your cadence high and your legs fresh. If your bike accepts it, favour the 34×34: on a climb this long, the lower gear is cheap insurance against blowing up.

Summary

Alto de Santa Cruz is a long, steady category 2 climb: 18.7 km of near-continuous ascent at a moderate 3.91% average, with sharp ramps toward 10.9% to keep you honest. Pace it off your threshold, gear low, and let its length — not its steepness — be the challenge you respect.

Length: 18.7 km
Average gradient: 3.91%
Max gradient: 10.9%
Start: 198 m
Summit: 928 m
Net gain: 730 m
Total ascent: 731 m
Category: 2