Alto del Sacrificio

Overview

Alto del Sacrificio is a genuine hors catégorie monster: 26.3 km of continuous climbing that lifts you from 867 m at the base to 2579 m at the summit. That is a net gain of 1712 m, with 1692 m of total ascent packed into the ride — meaning almost every metre points skyward with barely a pedal-stroke of respite. The 6.52% average gradient sounds civilised, but averages lie on a climb this long. Buried inside is a max pitch of 38.45%, a wall steep enough to force many riders out of the saddle or off the bike entirely. This is a climb you finish, not a climb you attack.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Over 26.3 km the road holds a mean of 6.52%, which is the sort of gradient you can sit on for hours if you are fresh — and torture if you are not. The defining feature is the spread between that average and the 38.45% maximum. A pitch nearly six times steeper than the mean tells you the climb is uneven: long sustained stretches near the average, punctuated by short vicious kicks that spike your power and heart rate. Because the total ascent (1692 m) sits just under the net gain (1712 m), there is essentially no descending to recover on — the elevation profile only goes one direction. Treat the steep ramps as isolated efforts and let the road settle back toward its average afterward.

Pacing Notes

On a 26.3 km climb, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a steady, sustainable output for the long stretches near 6.52%. The temptation on the 38.45% wall is to bury yourself — resist it, but accept that a brief surge above threshold there is unavoidable simply to keep the wheels turning. Ride the average, absorb the spikes, and recover on the shallower sections. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you start planning your climb — pacing 1712 m of gain without it is guesswork.

Gearing

With a max of 38.45% and 26.3 km of climbing, gear low and gear early. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the minimum sensible setup. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained 6.52% sections, but it will feel brutally short of teeth on the 38.45% pitch. If your bike accepts it, a 34×34 gives you meaningfully more room to spin rather than grind, protecting your knees and your matches for the top third of the climb. Given the length and total ascent of 1692 m, err toward the easier ratio — you will never regret having one more gear in reserve.

Summary

Alto del Sacrificio earns its HC rating through sheer duration and that ferocious 38.45% spike. Ride the 6.52% average with patience, gear low for the walls, and respect the 1712 m of net gain waiting between 867 m and 2579 m.

Length: 26.3 km
Average gradient: 6.52%
Max gradient: 38.45%
Start: 867 m
Summit: 2579 m
Net gain: 1712 m
Total ascent: 1692 m
Category: HC