Alto del Cedro

Overview

Alto del Cedro is a Category 4 climb in Colombia, running 17.7 km from a start elevation of 918 m to a summit at 1309 m. Across that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 391 m, which averages out to a modest 2.21% gradient. On paper it reads as a long, gentle valley drag rather than a wall-to-the-sky ascent.

That average is misleading, and the reason is in the numbers. The total ascent is 607 m, but the net gain is only 391 m. That gap of 216 m means the road gives back roughly a third of your climbing to descents and dips along the way. You are not grinding steadily upward; you are repeatedly earning height, losing some, and earning it again. That undulation makes the effort choppier than the average gradient suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 2.21% average hides both the recovery and the sting. With 216 m of hidden descent folded into the route, long stretches sit flat or drop downhill, and the true climbing is concentrated into shorter, sharper pitches. The steepest ramp bites at 18.02% — a gradient that will spike your effort well beyond anything the average implies.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where you can spin and refuel
• Repeated short climbs that stack up to the 607 m of total ascent
• A steepest ramp of 18.02% that demands out-of-saddle power

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, steady climb you would ride to even effort. Here, the undulation rewards a blend. Hold your sustainable power output on the true climbing pitches, and let speed carry you across the flats and descents rather than burning matches to hold a number that no longer matters when the road tips down.

The danger on an undulating profile is overcooking the short ramps and arriving at the 18.02% pitch with nothing left. Keep something in reserve. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your gear choice, and 18.02% is steep enough to demand real range. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 will let you keep cadence up on the steepest ramp instead of grinding to a standstill. Check your setup before the ride, not at the bottom of the pitch.

Summary

• Length: 17.7 km
• Average gradient: 2.21%
• Maximum gradient: 18.02%
• Net elevation gain: 391 m
• Total ascent: 607 m
• Category: 4

Alto del Cedro is easy to underestimate. The 2.21% average and Category 4 label suggest a spin, but the 216 m of hidden descent and the 18.02% ramp mean you should ride it as a series of efforts, not one steady drag. Pace the climbs, recover on the flats, and gear low enough to spin the steep bits.