Alto de Las Losas

Alto de Las Losas cycling climb profile

Alto de Las Losas is a short, contained effort: 3.9 km from bottom to summit, rising from 19 m to 209 m. With 190 m of net elevation gain and an average gradient of 4.84%, it sits firmly in Category 4 territory - meaningful enough to shape a ride, but not steep or long enough to demand a pure climbing setup.

The defining feature is moderation. The maximum gradient is 7.29%, which tells you the climb has some resistance, but not the kind of pitch that forces repeated out-of-saddle surges just to keep the bike moving. The average of 4.84% over the full distance also matters. Any steeper section has to be balanced by easier ground elsewhere, so the smart ride is not to overreact when the road tilts up.

How the gradient rides

Without a detailed kilometre-by-kilometre breakdown, the safest reading is that Alto de Las Losas is more of a steady aerobic climb than a selective wall. The numbers point to a climb where rhythm matters more than maximal strength. A 7.29% ceiling is enough to punish a rider who starts too hard, but the 3.9 km length means the climb is short enough that pacing errors show up quickly rather than over half an hour.

The bottom begins low, at 19 m, and the summit comes at 209 m. That relatively small elevation window keeps the effort simple: there is no altitude component to manage, just power, cadence, and restraint. For most riders, the climb should feel like a sustained tempo to threshold effort depending on fitness and intent. If using /glossary/ftp as a reference, this is the kind of ascent where riding just under threshold early usually beats chasing speed in the opening minutes.

Pacing and gearing notes

Treat the first part as a setup, not a launchpad. On a climb this short, it is tempting to push above sustainable power immediately, especially if the gradient feels manageable. The problem is that the max gradient of 7.29% gives the climb just enough bite to make an early overreach costly.

A practical approach:

• Start seated and controlled, aiming for a cadence you can hold without grinding.
• Keep one easier gear available for the steeper ramps rather than using it too early.
• Let speed fluctuate with the gradient instead of forcing a constant pace.
• If riding hard, build through the final portion rather than attacking from the base.

Gearing does not need to be extreme, but it should allow smooth pedalling around the steeper sections. The best setup is one that keeps the climb aerobic until you choose to lift the effort. For training, Alto de Las Losas works well as a repeatable threshold or sweet spot climb: long enough to require discipline, short enough to repeat, and moderate enough that pacing quality matters more than brute force.