Alto Verán

Overview

Alto Verán is a compact Category 4 climb that packs its work into a tidy 1.8 km. From a low start at just 18 m, the road lifts to a summit of 113 m, a net elevation gain of 95 m. The average gradient sits at 5.42%, steep enough to demand respect but never so severe that it forces a full-on grind for most riders. With a maximum pitch of 7.43%, the hardest section is honest rather than brutal — a climb you can attack rather than survive. At this length and category, Alto Verán is the kind of ascent you can ride at threshold from bottom to top if you judge the effort well.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The numbers tell a consistent story. With a 5.42% average and a 7.43% maximum, the gap between the two is only about 2 percentage points — this is a steady climb, not a wildly punchy one. That relatively narrow spread means there are no savage double-digit walls waiting to blow your legs apart; instead the road tilts up early and holds a rhythm close to its average for much of the 1.8 km. The total recorded ascent of 78 m against a net gain of 95 m suggests the profile is broadly uphill throughout, with little in the way of descents or false flats to break your cadence. Expect to settle into a gradient near 5% and see it firm up toward 7.43% where the road bites hardest.

Pacing Notes

Because Alto Verán is short and steady, it rewards a controlled, sustained effort rather than repeated surges. Aim to ride the climb at or just above your FTP — 1.8 km at 5.42% is comfortably within the duration most riders can hold at threshold. If you do not know your threshold power, the FTP estimator will give you a working number to pace against. Start a touch conservatively over the first stretch from 18 m, let your effort build as the grade approaches its 7.43% maximum, and save a small kick for the final metres up to 113 m. On a climb this length, going out too hard early costs you far more than starting steady.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 5.42% with a max of 7.43%, most riders will be perfectly well served by a compact setup. A 34×32 is plenty for the steady sections and lets you spin the 7.43% ramp without grinding to a crawl. If you prefer a higher cadence, are carrying fatigue from earlier climbing, or simply like an insurance gear in reserve, a 34×34 gives you that extra margin on the steepest pitch. Given the short 1.8 km distance, gear choice here is more about comfort and cadence than survival — either the 34×32 or the 34×34 will get you cleanly to the 113 m summit.

Summary

Alto Verán is a short, steady Category 4 climb that suits a threshold effort and a smooth cadence. At 1.8 km and 5.42% average, it is approachable for most riders while still offering a genuine 7.43% test near the top. Judge the pacing, pick a compact gear, and enjoy the rhythm.

Length: 1.8 km
Average gradient: 5.42%
Max gradient: 7.43%
Start: 18 m
Summit: 113 m
Net gain: 95 m
Total ascent: 78 m
Category: 4