Quilotoa

Overview

Quilotoa is a category 2 ascent that trades on distance and altitude rather than relentless steepness. Over 11.7 km it climbs from 3244 m to a summit of 3872 m, a net gain of 628 m at an average gradient of 5.35%. On paper that average reads as steady tempo work, but two details reshape the effort. First, the whole climb sits above 3200 m, where thin air blunts the power you would normally hold at sea level. Second, the total ascent of 680 m exceeds the net gain of 628 m, meaning the road gives back roughly 52 m along the way — short descents or flat reliefs that interrupt any rhythm you build. The 23.36% maximum gradient confirms this is not a uniform grade: somewhere on this climb the road ramps far beyond what the 5.35% average suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Read the numbers together and a shape emerges. An 11.7 km climb averaging 5.35% would normally gain about 626 m over pure ascent; here the net is 628 m but the total ascent is 680 m. That extra ~52 m of rolling terrain has to be paid for, and it means several sections must sit well above average to compensate for the flatter or downhill stretches that eat into forward progress. The 23.36% max is more than four times the average — a genuine wall. Expect the effort to arrive in waves: long stretches of manageable 4–6% grade broken by sharp kicks, at least one of which approaches that headline maximum. The flatter reliefs offer recovery, but every metre lost to a descent is a metre you climb twice.

Pacing Notes

At altitude, the usual advice to ride just under threshold becomes stricter. Anchor your pacing to your FTP, then ride the sustained 4–6% sections a notch below it, banking margin for the steep ramps toward the 23.36% max where power spikes are unavoidable. If you do not have a recent number, run the FTP estimator before you go — a stale figure is dangerous here, because thin air already erodes your ceiling and overcooking the lower slopes leaves nothing for the walls near the 3872 m summit. Treat the rolling reliefs as active recovery, not opportunities to attack.

Gearing

For a 628 m gain packed with a 23.36% pitch at elevation, gear low. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette is the practical minimum most riders will want. If you climb light or want insurance for the steepest ramp — especially with altitude sapping your legs — step up to 34×34. The extra sprocket costs nothing on the 5.35% average sections but preserves cadence and knees when the road bites.

Summary

Quilotoa is a long, high, deceptively varied category 2 climb: an approachable average masking a brutal maximum and altitude that magnifies every watt. Come with low gears, a recent FTP, and patience for the rolling terrain.

Length: 11.7 km
Average gradient: 5.35%
Max gradient: 23.36%
Start: 3244 m
Summit: 3872 m
Net gain: 628 m
Total ascent: 680 m
Category: 2