Paso de los Azules

Paso de los Azules cycling climb profile

Paso de los Azules is a Category 1 climb in CL, and the numbers make its character fairly clear: this is a long aerobic test before it is a brutally steep one. The climb runs for 31.5 km, starting at 2,062 m and reaching 3,475 m, with 1,413 m of net elevation gain. The average gradient is 4.49%, while the maximum gradient reaches 8.98%.

That combination matters. A climb this long at a moderate average gradient rewards riders who can hold pressure for a sustained period without letting the occasional steeper section pull them above threshold too early. The headline gradient does not look savage on paper, but the altitude range changes the equation. Starting already high and finishing much higher means the same power can feel more expensive as the climb goes on.

How the gradient unfolds

From the available profile stats, Paso de los Azules should be treated as a climb of accumulation rather than shock. Over 31.5 km, a 4.49% average means the road is gaining height consistently, but not in the style of a short wall where the main task is simply surviving the steepest pitch.

The 8.98% maximum gradient is the warning sign. Even if the climb is broadly manageable, there are sections steep enough to punish overconfidence. Those ramps are where many riders will instinctively lift power, especially if they have been lulled into a comfortable rhythm by the lower average gradient. The smarter approach is to let speed fall slightly, keep cadence under control, and avoid turning a brief rise into a prolonged effort above /glossary/ftp.

Pacing and gearing notes

The main pacing mistake here is starting as if the average gradient tells the whole story. It does not. The distance and elevation are the real constraints. Ride the lower and middle parts at a controlled endurance to tempo effort, then reassess once the summit altitude starts to bite.

Practical setup should favour range over pride. You want a gear that lets you stay seated and smooth when the gradient approaches its maximum, because grinding through the steeper pitches will compound fatigue quickly on a climb of this length. If your easiest gear only feels comfortable at the average gradient, it is not really adequate for the whole climb.

A good execution looks restrained early, consistent through the middle, and opportunistic only late. The climb is not asking for repeated attacks. It is asking whether you can manage power, cadence, and breathing all the way from 2,062 m to 3,475 m without paying for one impatient section.