Alto del Gallo

Overview

Alto del Gallo is a hors catégorie (HC) climb — the hardest rating a road can carry, sitting above categories 1 through 4. Over 16.6 km it averages 7%, hauling you from a start elevation of 1094 m to a summit of 2254 m. That is 1160 m of net elevation gain, with 1141 m of total ascent logged along the way. Add in altitude that climbs well past 2000 m and this becomes a climb that rewards patience and punishes ambition. It is long, it is steep in places, and it never fully lets you breathe.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is 7% average, but averages flatten the truth. On a climb this long the road pitches and eases in waves, and the standout figure is a max gradient of 18.53% — nearly a wall relative to the mean. Expect the sensation to swing sharply: stretches that sit near or just above the 7% average will feel almost sustainable, then the road kicks toward that 18.53% maximum and your rhythm falls apart.

With the summit at 2254 m, roughly the top third of the climb sits above 2000 m, where thinning air quietly steepens every ramp beyond what the gradient alone suggests. The shape is the challenge: not one single slope, but 16.6 km of shifting pitch that keeps you guessing.

Pacing Notes

On an HC climb of this length, the biggest mistake is starting too hard. With 16.6 km and 1160 m to gain, an even effort will always beat a fast opening that fades. Anchor your pacing to your FTP and hold a wattage you can genuinely sustain across the full ascent, not just the first few kilometres.

If you are unsure of your current number, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the climb. Then treat the steep ramps toward 18.53% as spikes to survive, not intervals to attack — let your average power drift up only as the summit at 2254 m comes into reach. Remember that as you cross 2000 m, the altitude will trim your ceiling, so bank a little margin early rather than late.

Gearing

For an HC climb averaging 7% over 16.6 km with pitches to 18.53%, gear generously. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections, but on the steepest ramps — where the road nears that 18.53% max — you will be grateful for a 34×34, or lower if your frame allows it.

The extra cog protects your cadence when the gradient bites, keeping you spinning instead of grinding at a crawl. Given the length and the altitude beyond 2000 m, err toward easier gearing than you think you need; there is no prize for over-gearing yourself into a standstill.

Summary

Alto del Gallo is a genuine HC test: 16.6 km averaging 7%, spiking to 18.53%, climbing from 1094 m to 2254 m for 1160 m of net gain. Pace it evenly, gear it low, and respect the thin air near the top.

Length: 16.6 km
Average gradient: 7%
Max gradient: 18.53%
Start: 1094 m
Summit: 2254 m
Net gain: 1160 m
Total ascent: 1141 m
Category: HC