Alto del Hilo

Overview

Alto del Hilo is a category-3 climb that stretches 10.4 km from a valley floor at 903 m up to a summit at 1258 m. On paper it reads as gentle: the average gradient sits at just 3.41%, and the net elevation gain across the full effort is only 355 m. That places it firmly in the territory of a rhythm climb rather than a leg-breaker — a road where a rider can settle into a cadence and hold it for a long stretch. But the numbers hide a sting. The maximum gradient touches 16.17%, more than four times the average, which means the effort is anything but uniform. Understanding where that steepness lives is the difference between a comfortable ride and a scramble.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The gap between the 3.41% average and the 16.17% maximum tells the whole story of this climb's shape. Over 10.4 km, a large share of the road must sit well below the average to make room for that single steep pitch — meaning long, forgiving false-flat sections punctuated by a sharp ramp. The total ascent of 330 m is actually slightly less than the net gain of 355 m, a quirk that points to an almost entirely uphill profile with little or no descending to reset your legs. There are no free metres here to coast and recover; every kilometre nudges you higher. When the road pitches toward that 16.17% wall, the contrast with the shallow surrounding grades makes it feel steeper than the raw figure suggests. Read the climb as flat-to-rolling with one demand you must respect.

Pacing Notes

Because the average is so low, the temptation is to attack the shallow kilometres. Resist it. Anchor your effort to your FTP and let the shallow gradients pass at a controlled, sustainable power rather than a surge. On a climb where the hardest metres arrive as an isolated 16.17% ramp, the smart move is to arrive at that pitch with reserves, not a burning debt from the flats. Aim to ride the 10.4 km just under threshold, then absorb the steep section with a brief, deliberate lift in effort. If you are unsure what number to target, run yours through the FTP estimator before you start, then hold that ceiling honestly across the full 355 m of climbing.

Gearing

Do not let the 3.41% average lull you into leaving your climbing cassette at home. For most riders a compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the right call. A 34×32 will comfortably carry you across the long shallow stretches and gives enough range to spin the majority of the climb. But for the 16.17% maximum pitch — where torque, not aerobic capacity, becomes the limiter — a 34×34 is the safer choice, letting you keep the pedals turning without grinding to a walking cadence. If you have it, fit the 34×34 and be glad of it on that single wall.

Summary

Alto del Hilo rewards patience: a long, shallow 10.4 km effort with one genuinely steep bite. Pace the flats, save something for the ramp, and gear low enough to spin it out.

Length: 10.4 km
Average gradient: 3.41%
Max gradient: 16.17%
Start: 903 m
Summit: 1258 m
Net gain: 355 m
Total ascent: 330 m
Category: 3