Alto del Chorro

Alto del Chorro cycling climb profile

Alto del Chorro is an HC climb in AR, and the numbers explain why before the road even enters the picture. It runs for 27.7km, averages 9.6%, gains 2658m net from a start elevation of 2158m to a summit elevation of 4816m, and contains a maximum gradient of 25.59%.

That combination makes it less a climb to attack and more a climb to survive intelligently. A 9.6% average over 27.7km is already severe, but the total ascent of 2727m against a net gain of 2658m tells you the route is overwhelmingly uphill. There is not much margin to bank recovery from extended easing or descending. If you ride the opening kilometres as if a reset is coming, the climb will make you pay later.

How the gradient unfolds

With only the headline profile available, the safest reading is that Alto del Chorro is a long, sustained ascent with damaging spikes rather than a steady metronome climb. The average gradient is high enough that even its normal riding rhythm will sit in climbing torque territory for most riders, while the 25.59% maximum gradient means the steepest ramps are not just uncomfortable - they can force a change in cadence, line choice, and power output.

The elevation profile also matters. Starting at 2158m means the climb begins high, and finishing at 4816m means the final section comes after a huge vertical gain and at an elevation where the same power output will feel more expensive. This is the key tactical point: the upper slopes are not just the end of a long climb, they are the end of a long climb after 2658m of net elevation gain.

Pacing strategy

Treat the first part as damage control. On a climb this long and this steep, riding even slightly above sustainable effort early can create a debt that compounds for an hour or more. If you know your /glossary/ftp, the effort should feel controlled below threshold for as long as possible, with room to absorb the steepest pitches without turning every ramp into a maximal effort.

The practical mistake is trying to hold speed when the road kicks up. With a maximum gradient of 25.59%, speed will fall sharply no matter how strong the rider is. The better target is controlled torque and breathing. Let the bike slow down, keep pressure smooth, and avoid the kind of low-cadence grind that floods the legs before the summit half of the climb.

Gearing notes

Bring the easiest gearing you can justify. This is not a climb where a standard road setup rewards pride. The 27.7km length and 9.6% average already demand low gearing, and the 25.59% maximum makes that a practical requirement rather than a comfort choice.

A compact or sub-compact crank with a wide-range cassette is the logical setup for most riders. The goal is not to spin effortlessly, because Alto del Chorro will not allow that for long. The goal is to preserve cadence options when the gradient bites, especially late in the climb when fatigue and altitude are both working against you.

If you are estimating effort before riding it, use a tool like /tools/ftp-estimator to anchor expectations, then pace conservatively. Alto del Chorro is defined by the interaction of length, gradient, and elevation. Respect all three, and the climb becomes manageable. Ignore one, and the other two will expose it.