Alto de Los Maquis

Alto de Los Maquis cycling climb profile

Alto de Los Maquis is a compact Category 4 climb: 4.8 km long, rising from 128 m to a summit elevation of 335 m. On paper, the key number is the 4.31% average gradient. That tells you this is not a climb defined by survival gearing or repeated out-of-the-saddle resets. It is a climb where efficiency matters more than brute force.

The profile lists a maximum gradient of 6.96%, so the steepest ramps are firm enough to punish sloppy pacing, but not so steep that they should force a full tactical reset. The difference between the average and maximum gradients suggests a climb that is mostly rideable at a steady rhythm, with sections that ask for a measured increase in torque rather than a panic shift or surge.

How the gradient unfolds

From bottom to summit, the climb gains 207 m in elevation across 4.8 km. That makes the overall ride feel like a sustained drag rather than a violent ascent. The start elevation is 128 m, and the road trends consistently upward to 335 m, so the main challenge is maintaining pressure without letting the early slope lure you into riding too hard.

The available profile gives the climb as 188 m of total ascent and 207 m of net elevation gain. That slight mismatch is a useful reminder not to read this as a corner-by-corner micro-profile. The practical takeaway is clearer: the climb is short enough to tempt an aggressive effort, but long enough that repeated accelerations will show up before the summit.

Pacing and gearing notes

Ride Alto de Los Maquis as a controlled aerobic climb if it comes early in a route, and as a sustained threshold-style effort if it is a target segment. Because the average gradient is moderate, speed stays high enough that big changes in effort are often self-inflicted. The best pacing strategy is to settle quickly, keep cadence smooth, and let the maximum-gradient sections lift effort only slightly.

If riding by power, avoid chasing every ramp. Hold a sustainable effort around your planned climbing intensity and use the steeper pitches as short pressure increases, not attacks. If you are unsure of your current zones, anchor the effort to /glossary/ftp rather than feel alone, because climbs like this often feel easier at the bottom than they do near the top.

For gearing, choose a setup that lets you keep turning smoothly when the road approaches its steepest 6.96% sections. You should not need ultra-low mountain gearing, but arriving overgeared will turn a manageable Category 4 climb into a muscular grind. The fastest ride here is likely the least dramatic one: steady pressure, clean cadence, and no wasted surges before the summit.