Alto del Chusque

Overview

Alto del Chusque is a Colombian HC climb that reads more like a wall than a road. Over just 7.1 km it averages a punishing 15.15%, dragging you from a valley floor at 255 m up to a 1337 m summit — a net gain of 1082 m in barely seven kilometres. That is one of the steepest sustained averages you will find anywhere with a paved surface, and the total ascent of 1052 m confirms there is almost no relief along the way. When a climb earns hors catégorie status, it is because the numbers exceed the normal scale; Chusque does exactly that. This is not a rhythm climb you settle into. It is a survival effort where the goal is simply to keep the pedals turning.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is relentlessness. With a 15.15% average across 7.1 km, there are no flat sections to recover on and no descents to break the effort — the difference between the 1082 m net gain and the 1052 m of total ascent is tiny, meaning the road points up almost continuously from bottom to top. The gradient is not merely steep, it is spiky: a maximum of 32.97% means there are ramps that more than double the already savage average. On pitches like that, momentum evaporates instantly and the climb becomes a battle of pure torque. Expect the steepest ramps to force you out of any comfortable cadence, then to be followed by sections that are only marginally kinder. From 255 m to 1337 m, the elevation profile is a near-solid diagonal line.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is less about clever effort distribution and more about not blowing up on the first ramp. Because the average sits at 15.15%, your power will run well above your sustainable threshold on every pitch above it, so anchoring your effort to your FTP is essential — ride at or just under it and let the steepest ramps spike briefly rather than trying to hold a fixed pace. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit to Chusque. With 1082 m to gain, going too hard in the opening kilometre will cost you far more time later than a conservative start ever will. Save something for the 32.97% ramps.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what 15.15% average with 32.97% spikes demands from your drivetrain. A standard 34×32 setup is the bare minimum here, and many riders will be grinding it in the lowest gear on every steep ramp. For most amateurs, 34×34 is the smarter choice — that extra sprocket buys you cadence and preserves your legs across the full 7.1 km. If your bike accepts it, err toward the wider range. On a wall like Chusque, spinning a 34×34 will always beat mashing a 34×32 into failure.

Summary

Alto del Chusque is an HC climb that respects nobody: 7.1 km, 15.15% average, and a 32.97% maximum that punishes every mistake. Bring your lowest gears, a conservative first kilometre, and full respect for the numbers.

Length: 7.1 km
Average gradient: 15.15%
Max gradient: 32.97%
Start: 255 m
Summit: 1337 m
Net gain: 1082 m
Total ascent: 1052 m
Category: HC