Alto de Minas

Overview

Alto de Minas is a genuine hors catégorie monster. Over 26.4 km it drags you from a start elevation of 717 m up to a summit at 2448 m, banking 1731 m of net elevation gain along the way. The average gradient of 6.57% sounds civilised on paper, but 26 kilometres of it is anything but — this is a climb measured in hours, not minutes, and it rewards patience far more than power.

Two numbers frame the whole effort. The 6.57% average tells you the sustained cost of admission. The 23.07% max gradient tells you the climb has teeth, and that somewhere on the road there is a pitch that will empty your legs if you arrive at it carrying too much fatigue.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 6.57% average across 26.4 km is not a smooth ramp. The total ascent of 1769 m sits 38 m above the net gain of 1731 m, which means the road isn't purely uphill — there are short reprieves and rolling sections where you'll briefly recover before the grade tips back up.

The headline hazard is the 23.07% max. A pitch more than three times the average is a wall, and on a climb this long it does real damage: it forces a spike in effort you then have to absorb across everything that follows. Treat the steep ramps as the moments to stay seated, spin, and refuse to bury yourself — the summit is a long way off and there's no bailing out at 2448 m.

Pacing Notes

On a climb of this length, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something you can genuinely sustain for the full 26.4 km — the temptation is to chase the early kilometres, but 1731 m of climbing punishes overreach mercilessly.

A sensible target is a steady sub-threshold effort, letting the 23.07% ramps briefly push you over while you stay controlled everywhere else. If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace. Fuel early and often; at this duration, running out of energy is a far bigger risk than running out of gears.

Gearing

Gear for the wall, not the average. The 6.57% mean is manageable on most setups, but the 23.07% max at the end of a 26.4 km grind is where compact-and-cassette choices decide whether you're pedalling or walking.

A 34×32 is the realistic minimum here, and only if you're strong and light. For most riders on an HC climb this long, a 34×34 is the smarter call — the extra range keeps your cadence up on the steep pitches and preserves your legs across the full 1731 m of gain. When in doubt, take the easier gear; you will not regret it at 2448 m.

Summary

Alto de Minas is a full HC test: long, sustained, and stinging at the top with a 23.07% max. Respect the 26.4 km, gear conservatively, pace to your threshold, and the 1731 m of climbing becomes an achievement rather than an ordeal.

Length: 26.4 km
Average gradient: 6.57%
Max gradient: 23.07%
Start: 717 m
Summit: 2448 m
Net gain: 1731 m
Total ascent: 1769 m
Category: HC