Alto del Convenio

Overview

Alto del Convenio is a long, patient category 1 climb that trades brutal steepness for sheer duration. Over 22.8 km the road lifts you from a starting elevation of 265 m to a 1292 m summit, a net gain of 1027 m with 1022 m of total ascent — figures nearly identical, which tells you this is an honest, mostly-uphill road with little wasted descending in between.

The headline average gradient is a modest-sounding 4.5%, but do not let that lull you. At this length, 4.5% sustained is a genuine test of endurance, and the maximum pitch of 10.46% proves the slope is far from uniform. This is a climb you ride with your head as much as your legs.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 4.5% average across 22.8 km rarely means a steady 4.5% the whole way. With ramps reaching 10.46% — more than double the average — the profile has to compensate with softer, shallower sections elsewhere. Expect the gradient to breathe: stretches noticeably easier than 4.5% that let you recover, punctuated by steeper kicks that bite toward that double-digit maximum.

Because the net gain (1027 m) and total ascent (1022 m) sit so close together, there are no meaningful downhill reprieves to reset your legs. The climbing is relentless in the sense that it almost never gives elevation back — every metre you earn stays earned. That makes rhythm, not raw power, the currency here.

Pacing Notes

For a climb of this length, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit comfortably below threshold on the shallower ramps, spending your matches only when the road tilts toward 10.46%. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your ride.

At 22.8 km, going out too hard in the first third is the classic error. Ride the average sections conservatively, keep cadence high, and treat the steep pitches as the only places you're allowed to breach threshold — briefly. With 1027 m to gain, the summit is a long way off; ration your effort accordingly.

Gearing

The combination of length and a 10.46% maximum makes compact gearing the sensible default. A 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette gives you room to spin rather than grind. A 34×32 low gear will handle most of the climb for stronger riders, but on the steepest ramps late in a 22.8 km effort you'll be grateful for a 34×34 — that extra sprocket keeps your cadence up and your knees happy when fatigue has set in. If your legs are still fresh on the average sections, you simply won't need the lowest gear, but carry it for insurance.

Summary

Alto del Convenio rewards patience: a long category 1 ascent where the 4.5% average hides both easy stretches and a 10.46% sting. Pace it to your threshold, gear low, and let the 1027 m come to you.

Length: 22.8 km
Average gradient: 4.5%
Max gradient: 10.46%
Start: 265 m
Summit: 1292 m
Net gain: 1027 m
Total ascent: 1022 m
Category: 1