Alto de Dos piedras 1 cycling climb profile
Alto de Dos piedras 1 is a category 3 climb in Argentina that asks for control more than aggression. The headline profile is manageable on paper: 6 km at an average gradient of 5.48%, starting at 1133 m and topping out at 1462 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 329 m, with the climb data listing 307 m of total ascent.
The key detail is the maximum gradient of 11.2%. That number changes how the climb should be ridden. A 5.48% average suggests a climb where a strong rider can settle into rhythm, but the double-digit maximum means there is at least one section where the effort can spike sharply if you arrive overgeared or already riding above threshold.
How the gradient unfolds
The available profile does not break the climb into kilometre-by-kilometre segments, so the safest reading is not that Alto de Dos piedras 1 is uniformly steep from bottom to summit. Instead, the average and maximum together point to a climb with a generally moderate grade interrupted by a much harder ramp.
That matters tactically. On a pure steady climb, holding a narrow power band is usually the best move. Here, the smarter approach is to ride the early and middle portions just under control, because the 11.2% maximum will punish any rider who treats the 5.48% average as permission to press too soon.
The summit sits 329 m above the start, so the climb is long enough for poor pacing to accumulate, but not so long that it becomes a diesel-only test. It suits riders who can keep momentum on moderate gradients, then absorb a short steepening without letting cadence collapse.
Pacing and gearing notes
Start conservatively. The first objective is to keep the climb aerobic enough that the steepest section can be handled as a controlled surge rather than a forced grind. If riding by power, anchor the effort around sustainable climbing intensity rather than chasing speed changes caused by the gradient.
Gearing should be chosen with the 11.2% maximum in mind, not the 5.48% average. A setup that feels comfortable on the lower slopes can become restrictive when the road kicks up. Use a climbing gear that lets you stay seated and maintain cadence through the steepest pitch, with a bailout option available if fatigue builds.
For training, Alto de Dos piedras 1 is useful as a pacing discipline climb. It is short enough to ride hard, but variable enough that the fastest effort will usually come from restraint early, smooth pressure through the body of the climb, and a final lift only once the summit is close. If you want to benchmark the effort, use it as a sustained threshold-style test rather than an all-out sprint from the base. See /glossary/ftp for how that intensity should feel.