Alto del Chuzo

Overview

Alto del Chuzo is a Category 2 climb in Colombia running 10.5 km from base to summit. It starts at 1,402 m and tops out at 1,998 m, for a net elevation gain of 596 m. On paper that produces a 5.66% average gradient — a number that suggests a steady, manageable haul rather than anything brutal.

The paper number lies, though. While the net gain is 596 m, the total ascent over the climb is 1,169 m. That gap — 573 m of extra vertical — tells you the road doesn't rise cleanly. It undulates, giving back elevation on descents and rollers that you then have to reclaim. In practice you climb almost twice the net gain, so the effort is meaningfully harder than the average gradient implies.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 5.66% average smooths over a lot of variation. With 1,169 m of total ascent packed into 10.5 km, the real climbing happens in bursts separated by flatter or descending sections. Expect the gradient to swing well above and below the mean, with the sharpest ramp hitting 28.16% — a wall that demands a hard, deliberate effort.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly descends, giving back elevation
• Repeated short climbs stacked back-to-back, which is where the hidden 573 m accumulates
• A steepest ramp of 28.16% that spikes far above the 5.66% average — do not get caught in the wrong gear

Pacing Notes

Undulating climbs punish even-speed pacing. If you try to hold a constant speed, you'll spike your effort on every ramp and coast the descents, burning matches you can't get back. Instead, pace to a steady sustainable power output: let your speed rise on the flatter recovery sections and drop on the steep pitches, keeping the effort itself even.

With 573 m of hidden climbing on top of the 596 m net gain, discipline early matters. Know your ceiling before you start — run the FTP estimator and hold your target on the ramps rather than chasing a number on the flats.

Gearing

The 28.16% maximum gradient governs your setup. That's steep enough to stall a rider on standard gearing, so run a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 to give yourself a bailout gear for the wall. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you're over-geared halfway up a 28% ramp is not a fixable problem mid-climb.

Summary

• Length: 10.5 km
• Average gradient: 5.66%
• Maximum gradient: 28.16%
• Net elevation gain: 596 m
• Total ascent: 1,169 m
• Category: 2

Alto del Chuzo rewards riders who read the profile rather than the average. Pace to power, gear for the steepest ramp, and respect the 573 m of climbing the 5.66% figure quietly hides.