Alto de La Loma

Alto de La Loma cycling climb profile

Alto de La Loma is a category 1 climb that asks for restraint more than aggression. At 24.2 km, it is long enough that pacing mistakes made early will still be with you deep into the ascent. The average gradient of 5% makes it look manageable on paper, but the maximum gradient of 16.2% changes the way it should be ridden.

This is not a climb to treat as a smooth tempo ramp from bottom to summit. The overall numbers point to a mostly moderate climb interrupted by much steeper sections. That matters because a 5% average over this distance can hide real damage: if the road repeatedly kicks above threshold, the physiological cost will be far higher than the average gradient suggests.

How the gradient unfolds

The climb starts at 602 m and tops out at 1814 m, with the supplied profile listing 1212 m of net elevation gain and 1199 m of total ascent. Across 24.2 km, that creates a climb where the main challenge is sustained accumulation rather than one single wall.

The key tactical read is the gap between the 5% average and the 16.2% maximum. A climb with that spread is unlikely to feel uniform. Expect long sections where a steady rhythm is possible, but also short, forceful ramps that can break cadence and push power well above target. Because the profile data does not identify exactly where the steepest gradients arrive, the safest assumption is that the hardest pitches can appear when fatigue is already building.

That makes Alto de La Loma a climb where the early kilometres should feel almost controlled to the point of being conservative. If you are already forcing the gear while the gradient is near the average, the 16.2% sections will require a costly surge rather than a manageable lift in effort.

Pacing and gearing notes

Ride this climb by effort, not ego. The length means small overages compound, and the steep ramps mean you need enough reserve to respond without blowing through your ceiling. For riders using /glossary/ftp, the sensible approach is to keep the bulk of the climb below the effort you could only sustain for a shorter climb, then allow brief rises in power only when the road demands it.

Gearing should be chosen for the maximum gradient, not the average. A setup that feels comfortable at 5% may become a grind at 16.2%, especially late in a 24.2 km climb. Prioritise a low enough gear to keep cadence from collapsing on the steepest pitches. Once cadence drops too far, the climb shifts from aerobic control into muscular damage, and that is difficult to reverse before the summit.

The best way to ride Alto de La Loma is to separate patience from passivity. Settle early, protect cadence, avoid chasing speed on the moderate sections, and use the easier gradients to recover from the steep ramps rather than to raise the pace. The climb rewards riders who understand that its average gradient is not the full story.