Paso de Reigolil

Paso de Reigolil cycling climb profile

Paso de Reigolil is a category 2 climb in AR, measuring 14.4 km at an average gradient of 4.09%. On paper, that makes it look controlled rather than savage. The important detail is the contrast between that moderate average and a maximum gradient of 14.28%. This is not a climb to judge by the headline gradient alone.

The climb starts at 856 m and tops out at 1447 m, gaining 591 m net, with 598 m of total ascent. That small gap between net gain and total ascent tells the basic story: the route is overwhelmingly uphill, without much elevation being given back. The difficulty is therefore less about repeated descents and restarts, and more about how efficiently you can manage a long, persistent rise that contains sharper ramps.

How the gradient rides

At 4.09% average, much of Paso de Reigolil should feel aerobic if paced correctly. The danger is psychological as much as physical: a rider sees a climb under 5% and assumes it can be ridden on momentum. Over 14.4 km, that approach quietly becomes expensive. The gradient may not demand constant low-cadence grinding, but the climb is long enough that repeated surges into the steeper sections can drain the legs before the summit.

The 14.28% maximum gradient changes the gearing equation. Even if those steeper pitches are short, they force a decision: either shift early and keep torque under control, or muscle over them and pay for it later. Because the climb finishes 591 m higher than it starts, there is limited help from the profile itself. Once fatigue accumulates, there is not much in the raw elevation data to suggest a major reset.

Pacing and gearing notes

Ride this climb from effort, not ego. The correct pacing model is controlled pressure through the moderate sections, with enough reserve to absorb the steepest ramps without spiking too far above sustainable power. If you use /glossary/ftp as a pacing anchor, this is the type of climb where sitting just under a hard steady effort early is usually smarter than chasing speed on the lower gradients.

A climbing gear is sensible here, even though the average gradient is only 4.09%. The max gradient of 14.28% is the reason. You do not need bailout gearing for the whole 14.4 km, but you do need enough range to keep cadence from collapsing when the road kicks up.

Practical approach:

• Start conservatively for the first part of the climb and let the average gradient work in your favor.
• Shift before the steepest ramps, not halfway through them.
• Keep power smooth on the easier gradients rather than trying to recover completely.
• Treat the final kilometers as a durability test, not a sprint unless you have paced the earlier 14.4 km cleanly.

Paso de Reigolil is not defined by one brutal number. It is defined by the combination of length, steady net gain, and sharp maximum gradient. Respect that mix, and the climb becomes manageable. Misread it as an easy 4.09% average, and it can become much harder than the profile first suggests.