Paso de Nellocahui

Paso de Nellocahui cycling climb profile

Paso de Nellocahui is a category 2 climb in AR, and the headline number tells only part of the story. At 21.1 km with an average gradient of 4.19%, it looks manageable on paper, but the 17.03% maximum gradient changes the way it should be ridden. This is not a climb to attack purely off the average.

The route starts at 559 m and tops out at 1443 m, gaining 884 m net from bottom to summit. Total ascent is listed at 978 m, which matters because it suggests the road is not a perfectly steady ramp. There is more climbing in the legs than the net elevation gain alone implies, and any easier sections are likely paid for by steeper ramps elsewhere.

How the gradient unfolds

The average gradient of 4.19% points to a long, aerobic climb rather than a wall from start to finish. Over 21.1 km, that kind of grade rewards rhythm, patience, and a controlled effort close to sustainable climbing power. But the 17.03% maximum gradient means there are moments where the climb can briefly force a much higher torque demand.

That contrast is the defining feature. The climb is long enough that repeated surges into the steepest sections can become expensive, especially if they come after a period of comfortable tempo. The risk is psychological as much as physiological: the moderate average invites overconfidence, then the sharp ramps punish riders who have been riding too close to the limit.

Pacing notes

Treat Paso de Nellocahui as an endurance climb with interruptions, not as a steady threshold test. The smartest approach is to settle early, keep the first part under control, and leave enough margin for the steepest pitches. If riding by power, avoid chasing a perfectly flat number through the hardest ramps. Let effort rise briefly, but keep it deliberate rather than reactive. For reference, anchor the effort around what is sustainable relative to /glossary/ftp, not what feels easy in the opening kilometres.

Because the summit sits 884 m above the start, pacing errors accumulate. A short over-threshold effort early may feel harmless, but on a 21.1 km climb it can reduce the ability to respond when the gradient bites later.

Gearing notes

The 17.03% maximum gradient makes low gearing important, even though the average is modest. Riders who gear only for the 4.19% average risk being forced into low-cadence grinding on the steepest ramps. A setup that allows seated climbing through the sharpest sections will preserve traction, reduce muscular load, and make the whole ascent easier to manage.

The key is not to make the climb feel easy - it is to keep the hard parts from becoming decisive. Paso de Nellocahui rewards the rider who respects the length, carries a gear for the maximum gradient, and saves the real effort for the upper half rather than spending it too early.