Paso de Corupo (Cuizillo)

Paso de Corupo (Cuizillo) cycling climb profile

Paso de Corupo (Cuizillo) is a short category 4 climb in MX, measuring 3.2 km at an average gradient of 4.53%. It starts at 275 m and tops out at 419 m, giving a net elevation gain of 144 m.

That combination tells you a lot about how the climb should ride. This is not a high-mountain effort where the gradient and duration slowly grind the legs down. It is a compact climb where the main risk is not survival, but misjudging the effort and riding the opening too hard because the average gradient looks manageable.

How the gradient unfolds

With a maximum gradient of 6.43%, Paso de Corupo (Cuizillo) has a relatively narrow gradient band. The average of 4.53% sits close enough to the maximum that the climb should be treated as a steady resistance rather than a profile defined by violent ramps.

That matters tactically. On a climb like this, the difference between riding smoothly and forcing the pace is usually paid back quickly. The gradient is hard enough to create separation if someone pushes over threshold, but not steep enough to reward repeated surges unless the rider has a clear advantage.

The listed profile also includes 120 m of total ascent. For pacing, the cleaner reference point is the road rising from 275 m to 419 m across 3.2 km. In practical terms, expect a sustained uphill effort, not a staircase-style climb with major recovery sections implied by the data.

Pacing and gearing notes

Ride this as a controlled seated climb. The average gradient of 4.53% means it is easy to carry momentum early, especially if the road feels gentle at the base. The better approach is to settle just below a hard sustainable effort, then lift the pace only once the summit is close enough that the 6.43% maximum gradient will not force a late fade.

Gearing does not need to be extreme, but it should leave enough range to stay smooth if the road touches its steepest pitch. If you are using /glossary/ftp to pace the effort, this is the kind of climb where going slightly too deep in the first half can cost more time than it gains. A compact, efficient rhythm beats a low-cadence grind here.

For riders targeting the climb, the key is restraint. Paso de Corupo (Cuizillo) is short enough to invite aggression, but long enough that poor pacing still matters.