Alto del Loro

Alto del Loro cycling climb profile

The Alto del Loro cycling climb is a long Category 2 ascent in VE, rising from 103 m to 780 m over 16.8 km. On paper, the 4.04% average gradient makes it look controlled rather than savage, but that number needs context. The climb gains 677 m net, while total ascent is 731 m, which tells you the road is not a perfectly steady ramp from bottom to top. There is some elevation loss or rolling terrain worked into the profile, and that matters for pacing.

This is the type of climb where the average can understate the actual cost. A rider who treats it as a simple 4.04% tempo effort may be caught out by the sharper sections, especially with a maximum gradient of 12.3%. The key is not just the steepest ramp itself, but the way those changes disrupt rhythm. On a climb of this length, repeated accelerations over steeper pitches can be more expensive than the headline average suggests.

How the gradient unfolds

The available profile data points to a climb built around sustained elevation gain rather than one single wall. Over 16.8 km, the road has enough time to punish poor pacing, but the moderate average means there should be sections where the gradient eases and speed comes back up. Those easier portions are not free. They are where you should restore rhythm, bring breathing under control, and avoid chasing speed just because the road lets you.

The 12.3% maximum gradient changes the gearing equation. Even if most of the climb sits far below that, you need a gear low enough to stay seated and smooth when the road pitches up. Grinding through the steepest parts too early will load the legs and make the final third feel longer than the profile suggests.

Pacing and gearing notes

Treat Alto del Loro as a controlled aerobic climb with tactical restraint. The first priority is staying below the effort that forces repeated surges. If riding by FTP, anchor the effort to what you can sustain for the full climb, not what feels comfortable in the opening minutes.

Practical approach:

• Start conservatively, because 16.8 km gives small pacing mistakes time to compound.
• Use the easier sections to settle, not to accelerate hard.
• Keep a low enough gear available for the 12.3% maximum gradient.
• Stay seated on the steeper ramps if possible, saving out-of-saddle efforts for short corrections.
• Judge the climb by effort consistency, not by the 4.04% average alone.

The winning strategy here is patience. Alto del Loro is not defined by an extreme average gradient, but by the combination of length, variable elevation gain, and ramps steep enough to punish overconfidence.