Alto de São Jorge

Overview

Alto de São Jorge is a 10.8 km climb that lifts you from a start elevation of 60 m to a 523 m summit. That works out to 463 m of net elevation gain over an average gradient of 4.28%, which places it firmly in category 3 territory: long enough to matter, shallow enough on average to reward a rider who paces well rather than one who simply attacks. The total ascent recorded on the road is 434 m, a touch under the net figure, a hint that the profile pitches upward almost the whole way with little relief.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is that 4.28% average, but averages flatten the story. The max gradient here is 10.52%, meaning the steepest ramp is roughly two and a half times harder than the mean. Across 10.8 km that gap tells you the climb is uneven: stretches noticeably easier than 4.28% must exist to balance out the pitches that spike toward double digits. Expect a rolling, staircase-like character where you settle into a rhythm, then get asked to dig on the sharper ramps before the road eases again. With 463 m of vertical to gain and only 434 m of measured ascent, there is essentially no descending to recover on — every kilometre is working for you.

Pacing Notes

Treat this as a tempo effort rather than an all-out burst. On a climb averaging 4.28%, your sustainable power matters far more than raw punch, so anchor your pacing to your FTP and resist the urge to redline early. A sensible plan is to ride the shallower sections just under threshold, then absorb the 10.52% pitches with a brief surge, letting your effort settle again once the grade relaxes. Because the climb is 10.8 km long, small overspends compound — a rider who blows up at halfway loses far more time than the seconds gained early. If you are unsure what number to target, run your recent data through the FTP estimator and build your climb pacing around that figure.

Gearing

For most riders a compact setup handles this climb comfortably. A 34×32 gives you enough range to spin the 4.28% average sections at a relaxed cadence, and it will get you over the 10.52% ramps if your legs are fresh. That said, given the climb runs a full 10.8 km with 463 m to gain and no recovery descents, a 34×34 is the smarter insurance — the extra sprocket keeps your cadence up on the steep pitches late in the effort when fatigue has crept in. If you tend to grind rather than spin, or you are carrying tired legs, err toward the 34×34.

Summary

Alto de São Jorge is an honest category 3 climb: 10.8 km of steady work, a manageable 4.28% average, and a single steep bite at 10.52% to keep you honest. Pace to your threshold, gear conservatively, and the 463 m of gain will come to you.

Length: 10.8 km
Average gradient: 4.28%
Max gradient: 10.52%
Start: 60 m
Summit: 523 m
Net gain: 463 m
Total ascent: 434 m
Category: 3