Alto de la Travesía del Chorrillo

Alto de la Travesía del Chorrillo cycling climb profile

Alto de la Travesía del Chorrillo is a category 3 climb in AR that is defined less by steepness than by duration. The climb runs for 17.9 km, starts at 1,583 m, and tops out at 2,145 m, giving a net elevation gain of 562 m. With an average gradient of 3.14% and a listed maximum gradient of 4.4%, this is not a climb that should force repeated accelerations out of the saddle. It is a long, shallow drag where the main risk is misreading how much road is still left.

How the gradient unfolds

The available profile numbers point to a climb with a very controlled gradient range. An average of 3.14% across 17.9 km tells you the road rises consistently enough to accumulate meaningful elevation, but not sharply enough to demand survival gearing. The listed maximum of 4.4% also matters tactically: there is no statistical evidence here of a brutally steep ramp or a decisive wall near the summit.

That changes how the climb rides. Instead of reacting to gradient spikes, the rider has to manage momentum. On a slope this shallow, small drops in speed can be costly because there is not much steepness forcing a natural rhythm reset. The better approach is to keep pressure smooth, avoid surging, and let the length do the work.

Pacing and gearing

Treat this as a sustained aerobic climb rather than a punchy test. The 17.9 km length means early over-pacing can still come back hard, even if the gradient feels modest at the bottom. The smart ride is to settle quickly into a pressure you can hold all the way to the summit, especially if you are using the climb as a controlled effort around /glossary/ftp or as part of a longer endurance day.

Gearing does not need to be extreme based on the listed gradients, but it should still allow a comfortable cadence when fatigue builds. Because the maximum gradient is only 4.4%, riders with appropriate climbing fitness should be able to stay seated for most of the ascent. The key is not finding a bailout gear for a steep ramp. It is choosing a gear that keeps the effort even and prevents muscular loading from creeping up over the final kilometres.

Ride takeaway

Alto de la Travesía del Chorrillo is the kind of climb where discipline beats aggression. Its 3.14% average makes it approachable, but its 17.9 km length means it still rewards riders who understand pacing. Ride it too casually and the climb becomes a slow grind. Ride it too hard early and the summit elevation of 2,145 m will arrive with unnecessary fatigue. The fastest, cleanest strategy is simple: steady pressure from bottom to top, with no need to chase drama that the profile does not suggest is there.