Alto de Los Venados

Overview

Alto de Los Venados is a 9.1 km Category 2 climb that starts high and finishes higher, running from 2749 m up to a summit of 3325 m. That is a net elevation gain of 576 m, with 558 m of total ascent packed into the effort. The average gradient of 6.34% puts it firmly in the "sustained tempo" bracket: steep enough to demand respect, consistent enough to reward a rider who can settle into a rhythm and hold it. What makes this one distinctive is the altitude. Beginning above 2749 m and cresting past 3325 m means the air is thin from the first pedal stroke, and every watt costs a little more than it would at sea level.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an average of 6.34% and a maximum of 11.79%, Los Venados is a climb of moderate slopes broken by a handful of genuinely sharp pitches. The gap between the average and the max — nearly 5.5 percentage points — tells you the road is not a monotone ramp. Expect long stretches sitting right around or just under the 6.34% mean, punctuated by ramps that rear up toward that 11.79% ceiling. Because the net gain (576 m) slightly exceeds the total ascent figure (558 m), the profile is almost entirely uphill with negligible relief; there are no meaningful descents to recover on. Plan to meet the steep sections with a little energy in reserve rather than assuming a false flat will bail you out.

Pacing Notes

Altitude changes the math here. A steady 6.34% for 9.1 km is a long effort, and above 3000 m your sustainable power drops, so pace off perceived exertion rather than a sea-level number. Aim to ride the flatter sections just below your FTP so you have headroom for the ramps toward 11.79%. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then shade your target down a touch to account for the thin air. The cardinal sin on a climb like this is going into the red early on a steep pitch and never recovering — meter your effort, stay seated where you can, and save any surge for the final approach to 3325 m.

Gearing

At 6.34% average with pitches near 11.79% and altitude sapping your legs, gear low and gear early. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections, but on the steepest ramps — and especially with the oxygen debt that comes above 3000 m — a 34×34 gives you a spinnable escape gear that keeps cadence up and your knees happy. If your bike can take it, err toward the easier 34×34; you will rarely regret carrying an extra sprocket on a climb this long and this high.

Summary

Alto de Los Venados rewards patience: a consistent 6.34% grade, a few sharp kicks toward 11.79%, and the constant tax of high altitude. Pace it evenly, gear it low, and let the summit come to you.

Length: 9.1 km
Average gradient: 6.34%
Max gradient: 11.79%
Start: 2749 m
Summit: 3325 m
Net gain: 576 m
Total ascent: 558 m
Category: 2