Alto de Yerbabuena

Overview

Alto de Yerbabuena is a Category 2 climb that packs a lot of punishment into a short distance. Over just 4.9 km the road gains 426 m from base to summit, hauling you from 2569 m up to 2995 m. That works out to an average gradient of 8.66%, which is steep enough to keep you honest from the first pedal stroke to the last.

The number that stands out most is the altitude. This is a climb that finishes just shy of 3000 m, so the thin air compounds every percentage point. There is no gentle valley run-in here — the slope bites early and holds a demanding average the whole way up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a mean of 8.66% and a maximum of 12.92%, the spread between the average and the steepest pitch is only 4.26 points. That is a telling detail: this climb does not hide its difficulty behind flat stretches that inflate a benign average. Instead, the gradient stays clustered near its mean, which means you rarely get a true recovery.

The 12.92% max marks the hardest ramp, but because the average sits so close to it, expect long sections where the road refuses to relent. On a climb like this, the challenge is less about surviving one savage wall and more about absorbing sustained pressure across all 4.9 km.

The gap between net elevation gain of 426 m and total ascent of 409 m is small, confirming an almost purely uphill profile with negligible descending or false flat to break the rhythm.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient is so consistent, Alto de Yerbabuena rewards a steady, disciplined effort over any attempt to attack. Ride it as a sustained threshold effort rather than a series of surges. Your FTP is the anchor number here: at 8.66% average for 4.9 km, going even slightly above your sustainable power early will cost you dearly near the 2995 m summit, where the altitude blunts your recovery.

If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your pacing. Aim to settle into a rhythm you can hold to the top, and treat the 12.92% pitch as the one moment to briefly ride above your target while staying seated where possible.

Gearing

At an 8.66% average that barely dips, gearing is what keeps your cadence in a sustainable range. For most riders, a compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the right call. A 34×32 will get many strong climbers up Yerbabuena at a workable cadence, but given the sustained slope and the max of 12.92%, a 34×34 gives you meaningful insurance for the steepest sections — and for the altitude sapping your legs above 2569 m.

If you have the range, err toward the easier 34×34 setup. Spinning a slightly lighter gear at altitude is almost always faster over 4.9 km than grinding a heavy one.

Summary

Alto de Yerbabuena is a compact, unrelenting Category 2 climb defined by its steep, consistent gradient and its high-altitude finish. Come with climbing gears, a paced threshold effort, and respect for the thin air near 2995 m.

Length: 4.9 km
Average gradient: 8.66%
Max gradient: 12.92%
Start: 2569 m
Summit: 2995 m
Net gain: 426 m
Total ascent: 409 m
Category: 2