Minera El Way is a climb of 14.8 kilometers (category 1). Minera El Way tops out at 618 m above sea level. It is located in Antofagasta, Región de Antofagasta, Chile. The average gradient is 4.4% with a maximum of 11.1%. The climb has 648 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty analysis: This Category 1 climb is moderate but sustained. The average gradient of 4.4% over nearly 15 km is consistent, but the distribution alternates between 3% sections (more of a breather) and 5% sections (more demanding), especially in the final third (KM 12-14). The lack of really brutal gradients is offset by the overall length.
Pacing advice:
1. Use the 3% sections to recover: KM 1-2, 5-6 and 9-10 give you a bit of a breather. Use them to recover actively without slowing down too much.
2. Prepare for the 5% sections: The steeper stretches (the start, KM 7-9 and the end) demand more from your legs and lungs. Tackle them in a gear that lets you turn the pedals smoothly and avoid blowing up.
3. Save something for the finish: The climb ends with two kilometres at 5%. Don't go out too hard, so you can hold steady power all the way to the top.
For cyclists looking for a climb off the beaten track, Minera El Way offers a raw, authentic experience. Riders' accounts describe a road that winds through an active industrial zone, with a quarry producing lime and cement materials, giving the landscape a unique and powerful character.
The vibe is distinctive, shaped by the activity on site. Some riders describe the place as "out of control", far from anything resembling a holiday spot. It's somewhere you feel you've come to suffer, with an atmosphere where it's typical to "roll in, grab something quick and roll back out".
Despite this harsh setting, other riders report very good attitude from the staff on site, even calling the company "excellent". That suggests the welcome can be an unexpected plus for climbers.
The weather adds to the challenge too, with mentions of a "bon climat helado" (a good icy climate), bringing a demanding meteorological dimension to this one-of-a-kind climb.
14.8 km • 648 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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