Alto del Chamizal

Alto del Chamizal cycling climb profile

Alto del Chamizal is a category 3 climb that rewards restraint more than aggression. On paper, 7.9 km at an average gradient of 3.65% is not a pure climbing test in the high-mountain sense, but that is exactly why it can catch riders out. The shallow average encourages speed, bigger gears, and small surges that feel affordable early, then become expensive once the gradient tilts closer to its maximum of 7.83%.

The climb starts at 26 m and tops out at 316 m, gaining 290 m from bottom to summit. That profile points to a sustained uphill drag rather than a stop-start wall. The total ascent is listed at 280 m, so the defining feature is not repeated major elevation loss, but a gradual rise where the main challenge is keeping pressure on the pedals without drifting above sustainable power.

How the gradient rides

The 3.65% average should feel tempo-friendly for a fit rider. It is steep enough that aerodynamics matter less than on flat terrain, but not steep enough to force everyone into climbing gears. That makes it a climb where pacing errors are often disguised as momentum. If you ride it like a false flat, you may carry good speed early but accumulate fatigue before the steeper pitches arrive.

The key number is the 7.83% maximum gradient. The context does not show exactly where that ramp appears, so the practical approach is to assume the climb can interrupt its steady rhythm with sharper sections. Those moments are where cadence and gear choice matter. A rider who has stayed below threshold can lift smoothly over the steeper ground. A rider already riding above /glossary/ftp will be forced into a costly correction.

Pacing and gearing notes

Treat Alto del Chamizal as a controlled aerobic climb with selective pressure, not as a full-gas effort from the base.

• Start conservatively for the first part of the 7.9 km. The gradient average is modest, but the climb is long enough for early overpacing to matter.
• Use a gear that lets you keep cadence stable when the road rises toward the 7.83% maximum. If you need to grind on the steepest pitch, the setup is too big or the effort is already too high.
• Sit on a steady tempo through the main body of the climb. The low average gradient means speed changes can be significant, so avoid chasing every small acceleration.
• Save the harder effort for the final section, once the summit elevation of 316 m is within reach and the cost of going above threshold is limited.

For training, Alto del Chamizal suits sustained tempo, sweet spot, or controlled threshold work. Its length gives enough time to settle into a repeatable effort, while the moderate gradient keeps it accessible for riders who want climbing stimulus without the demands of a steeper ascent.