Alto de Tiparuco

Overview

Alto de Tiparuco is a long, high-altitude category 1 climb that runs 19.5 km from a base at 1690 m to a summit at 2609 m. On paper its 4.72% average gradient looks approachable, but the numbers hide a longer, harder ride than the headline figure suggests. The net elevation gain is 919 m, yet the total ascent tallies 1030 m — a 111 m difference that tells you the road doesn't climb in one clean line. There are dips and false flats where you give back altitude and then have to earn it again. Combine that with nearly 20 km of near-continuous effort and thin air near the top, and Tiparuco becomes a climb of patience as much as power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.72% average is a blended figure, not a fixed slope. With a max gradient of 12.75%, some ramps are more than two and a half times steeper than the average, so the climb pulses between easier stretches and sharp kicks. The 111 m gap between the 1030 m total ascent and the 919 m net gain confirms rolling terrain: expect sections that ease off or descend briefly before the road tilts up again. Those recoveries are a trap if you surge into every steep pitch — the climb rewards a steady rhythm over 19.5 km far more than repeated accelerations.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. Ride the whole 19.5 km relative to your sustainable threshold rather than the gradient in front of you. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a consistent power target, letting the steeper ramps toward 12.75% push you a little above it and the false flats bring you back down. If you don't have a reliable threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan a target. Remember that the summit sits at 2609 m — the final kilometres come with less oxygen, so budget for a fade and start conservatively rather than blowing up with altitude still to climb.

Gearing

Given the 19.5 km distance, 12.75% max pitches, and a summit at 2609 m, gear for spinning, not grinding. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low is a sensible baseline for the steep ramps, and if you tend to climb at a higher cadence or expect heavy legs at altitude, drop to a 34×34. The extra range costs almost nothing on the easier 4.72% stretches and preserves your knees and your pacing across a climb where consistency over 919 m of net gain matters more than raw torque.

Summary

Alto de Tiparuco is a long, patient category 1 climb: 19.5 km, 919 m of net gain, and a deceptive 4.72% average punctuated by 12.75% ramps and finished off by 2609 m altitude. Pace it to your threshold, gear low, and respect the difference between the 1030 m you actually climb and the 919 m you net.

Length: 19.5 km
Average gradient: 4.72%
Max gradient: 12.75%
Start: 1690 m
Summit: 2609 m
Net gain: 919 m
Total ascent: 1030 m
Category: 1