Alto de Yerbas Buenas

Alto de Yerbas Buenas cycling climb profile

Alto de Yerbas Buenas is a proper Category 1 climb in Chile, and the headline number explains why: 12.4 km at an average gradient of 7.57%. That is long enough that it cannot be treated like a short power climb, and steep enough that small pacing mistakes compound quickly.

The climb starts low, at 45 m, and rises to 985 m, gaining 940 m by the summit. That vertical gain across 12.4 km tells you the basic character before you even look at the maximum gradient. This is not a rolling climb where the average is inflated by one severe section. It is a sustained uphill effort where the road keeps asking for torque and patience.

How the gradient unfolds

With an average gradient of 7.57%, Alto de Yerbas Buenas sits in the difficult middle ground between rhythm climbing and survival climbing. On paper, it is not absurdly steep from bottom to top, but the 13.31% maximum gradient is the key detail. Those steeper ramps are where the climb can break pacing discipline.

The practical reading is simple: the average is hard enough to keep pressure on the pedals almost the whole way, while the maximum gradient means there are sections where cadence can collapse if the rider is already too close to the limit. That combination usually rewards a controlled start more than an aggressive one.

Pacing strategy

The first mistake on a climb like this is treating 7.57% as manageable and then riding the opening too close to /glossary/ftp. Over 12.4 km, that becomes expensive. The better approach is to ride the lower slopes at a pressure that feels almost too measured, especially because the climb gains nearly a vertical kilometre by the top.

A good pacing model is:

• Settle early into a sustainable climbing rhythm
• Keep cadence protected before the steepest ramps arrive
• Avoid repeated surges on the 13.31% sections
• Save the hardest effort for the final part, once the summit is realistically within reach

The important point is that the steepest pitches should be absorbed, not attacked blindly. If a ramp forces a short rise in power, let it happen, but do not keep pressing once the gradient relaxes. The cost of carrying that effort for too long is high on a climb of this length.

Gearing notes

Use climbing gearing that lets you stay seated and smooth on gradients well above the average. The maximum gradient of 13.31% means a gear that feels fine at 7.57% may be too heavy when the road kicks up. If you are choosing between a tighter cassette and a wider climbing setup, this is a climb where the easier option makes tactical sense.

The goal is not just comfort. It is pacing control. When the gear is too large, power spikes become unavoidable, and those spikes are exactly what make the final kilometres of a sustained Category 1 climb unravel.