Alto del Caballo

Overview

Alto del Caballo is a long-haul category 1 climb that trades savagery for stamina. Over 22.3 km it lifts you from 196 m at the base to a 1487 m summit — a net gain of 1291 m — at an average gradient of 5.8%. That average tells you this is a climb of endurance rather than explosive steepness, but the 10.46% maximum gradient warns that the road does not stay polite the whole way up. With a total ascent of 1308 m across its length, the climb includes a small amount of rolling or false-flat relief on top of the raw elevation you gain, meaning your legs never get a true rest even where the grade eases.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Treat the 5.8% average as a mask rather than a description. On a climb this long, a moderate mean almost always hides a mix of gentler drags and sharper ramps. The 10.46% maximum sits well above the average, so expect the hardest pitches to feel nearly twice as steep as the "typical" gradient your legs settle into. Because total ascent (1308 m) slightly exceeds net gain (1291 m), there are short kickers or dips where you briefly give back a little height before clawing it back. The smart read: anticipate stretches noticeably easier than 5.8% that let you recover, punctuated by ramps toward double digits that demand a lower gear and a calmer head.

Pacing Notes

At 22.3 km, Alto del Caballo is won by discipline, not bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a sustainable power target rather than chasing every steepening. If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you attempt a full-effort ascent. Aim to ride the 5.8% sections comfortably below threshold so you have headroom for the ramps toward 10.46%, where power naturally spikes. Over 1291 m of climbing, a pace that feels easy in the first few kilometres is usually correct — riders who overcook the lower slopes pay for it dearly near the 1487 m summit.

Gearing

Length and the 10.46% maximum make gearing your friend here. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the sensible baseline. Pair it with a wide cassette: a 34×32 gives most riders enough range to spin the steeper pitches without grinding, and if you carry extra fatigue or prefer a higher cadence on long climbs, a 34×34 buys you a further cushion for the ramps near 10.46%. On a 22.3 km climb, protecting your knees and keeping cadence up matters more than saving a few grams — err toward easier gearing.

Summary

Alto del Caballo rewards patience: a long, steady category 1 ascent where the 5.8% average is broken by pitches to 10.46%, and where 1291 m of net climbing over 22.3 km asks for measured pacing and generous gearing. Ride it within yourself and the 1487 m summit comes to you.

Length: 22.3 km
Average gradient: 5.8%
Max gradient: 10.46%
Start: 196 m
Summit: 1487 m
Net gain: 1291 m
Total ascent: 1308 m
Category: 1