Alto del Arado

Overview

Alto del Arado is a category 1 climb that trades on length rather than sustained ferocity. Over 25.6 km it lifts you from 235 m at the base to 1634 m at the summit, a net gain of 1399 m at an average gradient of 5.47%. That average reads gently, but the total ascent of 1331 m confirms there is real work packed into every kilometre, and a lone spike of 19.06% proves the road has teeth when it wants them. This is a climb you settle into and respect for the long haul, not one you attack from the bottom.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is the 5.47% average, and a climb this long rarely holds a steady line. The gap between the 5.47% mean and the 19.06% maximum tells the story: long stretches sit comfortably below the average, banked against ramps that punch well above it. Because the net gain of 1399 m slightly exceeds the total ascent of 1331 m, the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with little in the way of false flats or descents to break rhythm. Expect gentle-to-moderate grades for most of the 25.6 km, interrupted by short, sharp pitches that force you out of the saddle before the road eases and lets you recover. The 19.06% wall is the one moment where the climb bares its full intent.

Pacing Notes

At 25.6 km this is an exercise in restraint. Set your effort just below threshold and hold it. A reliable anchor is your FTP: riding the long, near-average sections a touch under FTP leaves headroom to absorb the ramps toward 19.06% without blowing apart. If you don't know your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit, because a climb this long punishes a pace guessed wrong in the first few kilometres. Meter the 1399 m of climbing evenly rather than spending everything on the early slopes; the summit at 1634 m rewards the rider who still has something left when the gradient bites.

Gearing

Length plus a 19.06% maximum makes gearing non-negotiable. A 34×32 is the sensible floor here, giving you a bailout ratio to spin the steeper ramps without grinding your cadence into the ground over 25.6 km. If your legs tend to fade late or you simply prefer to sit and spin, step up to a 34×34 for extra margin on the 19.06% pitch and the closing slopes toward the summit. With 1331 m of total ascent to absorb, the wider cassette costs you nothing on the shallow sections and buys real insurance where the road turns cruel.

Summary

Alto del Arado is a category 1 endurance test: 25.6 km, 5.47% on average, and a single 19.06% sting, delivering 1399 m of net elevation from base to summit. Pace it under threshold, gear it low, and let the numbers do the talking.

Length: 25.6 km
Average gradient: 5.47%
Max gradient: 19.06%
Start: 235 m
Summit: 1634 m
Net gain: 1399 m
Total ascent: 1331 m
Category: 1