Alto de Ventaquemada

Overview

Alto de Ventaquemada is a Category 1 climb that asks a serious, sustained effort from the first pedal stroke. Over 10.3 km it averages 7.31%, hauling you from a start elevation of 2243 m up to a summit at 2998 m. That places the entire climb at high altitude, where thinner air blunts the power you can normally produce and turns a manageable gradient into something that bites harder than the raw percentage suggests.

The headline numbers tell a consistent story. A net elevation gain of 755 m across just over ten kilometres, with total ascent measured at 739 m, means there is very little respite built into this road. There are no long flat plateaus to recover on and no fast descents to break the rhythm — just a steady, grinding upward line to the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

At 7.31% average, Ventaquemada sits firmly in the "no easy metres" bracket. The gap between the average of 7.31% and the max of 16.06% tells you the climb is not perfectly uniform: there are steeper pitches stacked on top of an already demanding baseline. When a road holds a 7%-plus average for this long, the steep sections rarely feel like isolated spikes — they arrive after you are already deep into oxygen debt.

Expect the hardest ramps to approach 16.06% in short bursts, likely where the road tacks upward to gain height quickly. Because the total ascent of 739 m is nearly identical to the net gain of 755 m, you can trust that almost every metre you climb stays climbed. Plan your effort around the average, then keep a small buffer in reserve for the pitches that reach toward that 16.06% maximum.

Pacing Notes

The smartest way to ride a climb like this is by feel and by power, not by ego on the lower slopes. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a steady, sustainable output rather than surging into every steep ramp. On a 10.3 km climb at altitude, going too deep in the first few kilometres is punishing — the summit at 2998 m is a long way up, and the air only gets thinner.

If you are not sure of your current threshold, use the FTP estimator to get a working number before you plan your pacing. Aim to ride the 7.31% sections just below threshold so you have headroom for the pitches climbing toward 16.06%, where holding your line and cadence matters more than speed.

Gearing

Bring climbing gears. For most riders a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the right call here. A 34×32 will get many fit riders up the steady 7.31% stretches, but the max of 16.06% at nearly 3000 m of altitude is exactly the scenario where an extra sprocket earns its keep. If your bike can take it, a 34×34 gives you a lower bailout gear that lets you spin rather than grind the steepest ramps, protecting your legs for the full 10.3 km.

Summary

Alto de Ventaquemada is a high-altitude Category 1 test of sustained climbing — long, steep, and unforgiving from bottom to top. Ride it steady, gear low, and respect the thin air.

Length: 10.3 km
Average gradient: 7.31%
Max gradient: 16.06%
Start: 2243 m
Summit: 2998 m
Net gain: 755 m
Total ascent: 739 m
Category: 1