Alto del Yerbal

Overview

Alto del Yerbal is a genuine hors catégorie beast, and the numbers leave no doubt about it. Over 26 km of continuous climbing it lifts you from a start elevation of 710 m to a summit at 2506 m, a net elevation gain of 1796 m. The average gradient of 6.9% sounds almost civilised until you register how long you have to hold it — this is a climb measured in hours, not minutes, and it earns its HC label through sheer sustained accumulation rather than any single wall. That said, the max gradient of 26.75% promises there are moments that will threaten to stop you dead.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by duration. A 6.9% average across 26 km means the road rarely relents; there is no long false-flat to recover on, no obvious plateau where you can shift up and spin. The total ascent of 1775 m sits just below the net gain of 1796 m, which tells you the profile is almost relentlessly uphill — there is barely any descending or flat within the climb to give the legs a break. The gap between the 6.9% average and the 26.75% max is enormous, so expect the gentler stretches to be punctuated by sharp, punishing ramps. When the gradient spikes toward that maximum, even briefly, it will shred any rhythm you have built. Treat the whole ascent as a high, wide altitude gain that finishes above 2500 m, where thinner air compounds the effort.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the urge to chase the early kilometres — with 1796 m still to gain, a hot start will cost you dearly in the final third. Aim to sit comfortably below threshold on the 6.9% sections so you have headroom when the road rears toward its 26.75% max. If you are unsure of your threshold power, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. Remember that the summit at 2506 m means altitude will quietly sap your usual power, so the wattage that feels sustainable at the 710 m base will feel harder near the top. Budget for a full-length effort and meter it accordingly.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what 26 km at 6.9% with a 26.75% max demands from your drivetrain. For most riders a compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible floor. A 34×32 will get many trained climbers up the sustained gradient, but given the length and those brutal ramps toward the maximum, a 34×34 gives you the extra bailout gear that keeps your cadence alive when the road bites. If you can fit anything easier, take it — spinning a low gear over 1796 m of ascent will always beat grinding yourself into the ground.

Summary

Alto del Yerbal is a long, sustained HC ascent that rewards patience and punishes ambition. Respect the distance, gear low, and pace to your threshold.

Length: 26 km
Average gradient: 6.9%
Max gradient: 26.75%
Start: 710 m
Summit: 2506 m
Net gain: 1796 m
Total ascent: 1775 m
Category: HC