Alto Cavista

Overview

Alto Cavista is a genuine giant. Over 40.3 km the road drags you from a valley floor at 620 m all the way to a 2781 m summit, a net elevation gain of 2161 m. Add in the dips and recoveries along the way and the total ascent swells to 2288 m — meaning there are 127 m of climbing hidden inside the descents you have to reclaim. This is an HC ascent, hors catégorie, the hardest classification there is, and the length alone earns it that label before you even talk about gradient. At 5.36% average it never lets you coast, and with 2161 m of vertical to swallow this is a climb measured in hours, not minutes.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline average of 5.36% is deceptive. On a climb this long, the mean flattens out the story, and the reality is a road that swings hard. The killer number is the 26.31% maximum gradient — a wall roughly five times steeper than the average. Ramps like that don't appear by accident on a climb averaging 5.36%; they're balanced by flatter stretches and even the short descents that push total ascent (2288 m) above net gain (2161 m). Expect the profile to breathe: long sustained pulls near the average, punctuated by savage pitches where the grade spikes toward that 26.31% peak. Ride it as if it were flat and those spikes will break you.

Pacing Notes

On a 40.3 km effort, pacing is everything. Anchor your climb to your FTP and refuse to chase the steep ramps into the red — every match you burn on a 26.31% pitch is one you won't have for the 2161 m still stacked above you. Aim to sit comfortably below threshold on the sustained sections so you have headroom when the grade jumps. If you're not sure what number to build around, run your figures through the FTP estimator first, then set a ceiling and hold it. The summit sits at 2781 m, so factor thinning air into the back half — your sustainable power fades as you climb, and a pace that felt easy at 620 m will feel very different near the top.

Gearing

Gear for the 26.31% maximum, not the 5.36% average. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the sensible front, and the question is only how much cassette you bolt behind it. A 34×32 is the practical minimum for a climb this long, and even strong riders will be grateful for it across 2161 m of gain. For most, a 34×34 is the smarter call — the extra sprocket buys you a spinnable cadence on the steepest ramps and preserves your legs for the sheer duration. When a climb runs 40.3 km with pitches past 26%, over-gearing is a genuine risk. Err toward the easier ratio.

Summary

Alto Cavista is a long, honest HC climb that rewards patience and punishes ambition. Pace to your threshold, gear low, and respect the 2781 m summit.

Length: 40.3 km
Average gradient: 5.36%
Max gradient: 26.31%
Start: 620 m
Summit: 2781 m
Net gain: 2161 m
Total ascent: 2288 m
Category: HC