Alto del Corral

Overview

Alto del Corral is a Category 1 climb that rewards patience and punishes over-ambition. Over 11.1 km it averages 7.51%, lifting you from a start elevation of 535 m to a summit at 1368 m. That is 833 m of net vertical gain, delivered at a gradient that almost never relents. The total ascent of 811 m confirms this is a climb with very little in the way of downhill relief — what goes up here mostly stays up. At more than eleven kilometres of sustained effort, it sits firmly in the territory where your pacing decisions in the first quarter dictate whether the last quarter is a controlled grind or a slow-motion collapse.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Alto del Corral is its consistency. A 7.51% average across 11.1 km means there is no long false flat to hide in and recover. The 10.52% maximum gradient tells you where the sharpest bite lives — a difference of only about 3% between the average and the steepest ramp, which is unusually tight. In practice, that means the climb rarely eases below its average for long, and the steep sections are not dramatic spikes but firmer shoulders leaning on an already-hard baseline. With net gain (833 m) sitting close to total ascent (811 m), the road climbs almost continuously; expect very few moments to soft-pedal and shake out your legs.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long and this even, effort discipline matters more than raw power. Anchor your pacing to your FTP and aim to hold a percentage of it you can sustain for the full duration — for a 30-plus-minute effort, most riders settle somewhere below threshold rather than at it. Because the gradient barely dips, you will not get the natural micro-recoveries that steeper, more variable climbs offer, so surging early is especially costly here. Start a notch easier than feels right for the first couple of kilometres, then let the effort build as the summit at 1368 m draws closer. If you are not sure what your sustainable number is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target.

Gearing

At 7.51% average over 11.1 km, gearing is not a luxury — it is what keeps your cadence out of the red. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will suit strong climbers who can turn a bigger gear comfortably at threshold, but on a climb this sustained many riders will be grateful for a 34×34, which shaves just enough torque off each pedal stroke to protect cadence when the road tips toward its 10.52% maximum. If you tend to grind rather than spin, err toward the easier ratio; the extra range costs nothing on a climb where you will never run out of gears going up.

Summary

Alto del Corral is a long, honest Category 1 test: even, sustained, and unforgiving of a fast start. Pace it to your threshold, gear it to protect your cadence, and let the summit come to you.

Length: 11.1 km
Average gradient: 7.51%
Max gradient: 10.52%
Start: 535 m
Summit: 1368 m
Net gain: 833 m
Total ascent: 811 m
Category: 1