Alto del Otoño

Overview

Alto del Otoño is a category-1 climb that asks a real question of your legs: 15.4 km of continuous uphill at an average gradient of 5.81%. From a start elevation of 957 m, the road hauls you up to a 1850 m summit, a net elevation gain of 893 m over the full haul. The total ascent logged along the way is 884 m, so this is honest, one-directional climbing with almost no reprieve — what goes up keeps going up.

That average of 5.81% sounds moderate, but averages lie. The climb hides a peak pitch of 19.1%, and any road that steep somewhere is a road that hovers well below its average elsewhere. Expect the effort to arrive in waves rather than as a single steady grind.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of the 5.81% average as the price of admission, not the whole bill. Over 15.4 km, a 893 m rise is the smooth version of the story. The reality is a max gradient of 19.1% — more than three times the average — which means the climb banks its difficulty into a handful of savage ramps while easing off in between.

The gap between the total ascent of 884 m and the net gain of 893 m tells you there is barely any descending mixed in. This is a relentless, mostly monotonic ascent: no long false flats to recover on, no fast valley section to spin out the legs. When the gradient bites into the high teens and touches 19.1%, you simply have to absorb it and wait for the slope to relent.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Aim to sit just under your FTP on the sustained 5.81% sections and save your matches for the steep ramps toward 19.1%, where holding the same power costs far more per pedal stroke.

If you do not know your threshold, plug your numbers into the FTP estimator before you ride. Knowing that figure lets you set a realistic tempo across all 15.4 km instead of blowing up in the first few kilometres. On a climb with 893 m of vertical to give away, going out too hard is the single most expensive mistake you can make.

Gearing

Gear for the steep bits, not the average. A 5.81% mean is spinnable on almost anything, but a 19.1% wall is where your cassette earns its keep. For most riders a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the right call.

A 34×32 will get you up the sustained sections comfortably, but on the sharpest ramps you will be grinding. If you have any doubt about your climbing legs over a 15.4 km effort, go to a 34×34 — that extra sprocket keeps your cadence alive when the road tilts toward 19.1% and protects your knees over the full 893 m of climbing.

Summary

Alto del Otoño is a long, honest category-1 climb: 15.4 km, a 5.81% average softened on paper but sharpened by a 19.1% maximum, lifting you 893 m to a summit at 1850 m. Pace it smart, gear it generously, and respect the steep ramps.

Length: 15.4 km
Average gradient: 5.81%
Max gradient: 19.1%
Start: 957 m
Summit: 1850 m
Net gain: 893 m
Total ascent: 884 m
Category: 1