Alto del Común

Overview

Alto del Común is a category 1 climb that asks a serious, sustained effort. Over 16.2 km it rises from 730 m to a 1860 m summit, a net gain of 1130 m at an average gradient of 6.96%. That average tells most of the story: this is not a wall you sprint and recover from, but a long, honest haul where the road tilts up and stays there. The total ascent of 1114 m confirms there's little in the way of false flat or descent to break the rhythm — nearly every metre you climb is a metre you keep. Add a maximum gradient of 15.92% and you have a climb that rewards patience but punishes anyone who arrives at the steep sections already in the red.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining number here is consistency. With 16.2 km of climbing and an average of 6.96%, the road settles into a demanding but repeatable pitch for long stretches. The gap between the 6.96% average and the 15.92% maximum is where the difficulty lives: the climb is punctuated by ramps that spike well above the mean, forcing you out of your steady cadence and into brief, taxing surges. Because the total ascent (1114 m) sits so close to the net gain (1130 m), you can trust that the climb keeps going up — there are no meaningful downhill kilometres to hand back elevation and reset your legs. Expect to spend the majority of the climb between 5% and 8%, with the steeper spikes clustered where the road pinches.

Pacing Notes

Treat Alto del Común as a threshold effort managed from the first kilometre. Anchor your pace to your FTP rather than to feel, because 16.2 km at 6.96% is long enough that early over-exertion compounds badly by the summit. If you don't know your threshold power, estimate it first with the FTP estimator so you can set a sustainable target before you turn onto the lower slopes. The key discipline is protecting effort on the steep ramps toward 15.92% — let cadence drop and hold power steady rather than chasing the same speed. Ride the average, absorb the spikes, and you'll reach 1860 m with something left.

Gearing

Gearing matters on a climb this sustained. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 32-tooth cassette sprocket — 34×32 — is the sensible floor for strong climbers, giving you a bailout ratio for the ramps approaching 15.92%. If you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude near the 1860 m summit, or simply prefer to spin, step up to 34×34. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive through the steepest pitches and protects your legs across the full 16.2 km. Under-gearing on a 6.96% average is a common mistake; err toward the easier ratio.

Summary

Alto del Común is a category 1 test built on length and consistency rather than a single decisive wall. The 6.96% average over 16.2 km is what breaks riders, with spikes to 15.92% doing the sharp damage. Pace it to your threshold, gear low enough to spin, and respect the 1130 m of climbing to 1860 m.

Length: 16.2 km
Average gradient: 6.96%
Max gradient: 15.92%
Start: 730 m
Summit: 1860 m
Net gain: 1130 m
Total ascent: 1114 m
Category: 1