Alto del Vino is a climb of 17.9 kilometers (hors catégorie). The climb finishes at 2,540 m above sea level. It is located in La Vega, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The average gradient is 6.7% with a maximum of 21%. The climb has 1198 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty analysis: At 17.9 km, with 1198 m of elevation gain and an average gradient of 6.7%, the Alto del Vino is a demanding, relentless hors catégorie climb. The start from La Vega is particularly brutal, with 14% from km 1 to 2 and 11% from km 2 to 3. The rest alternates between rolling sections at 3-4% (km 3 to 6) and nasty ramps at 7-9% (km 6 to 8 and km 10 to 11). The short flat section from km 12 to 13 offers a breather, but km 15 to 17, at 7-8%, will grind your legs right to the end.
Tips for pacing yourself:
1. Save your legs from the off: don't go out too hard in the first three kilometres at 8-14%. Find a steady rhythm, seated, to preserve your legs.
2. Make the most of the flat: use the almost flat section from km 12 to 13 to fuel up, drink and get your cadence back before the final part.
3. Keep something in the tank for the finale: on km 15 to 17, at 7-8%, only stand up on the pedals if you really need to, so you don't run out of gas before the finish line.
Those who have climbed the Alto del Vino put the summit at around 2800 meters, between Bogotá and La Vega, and it's often reached from Soacha. It gets quite cold up top. Opinions on difficulty are split: some riders say the climb is tough, with steeper sections than you'd expect, while others call it an easy gradient, good for beginners or for base miles.
The road is wide and in good condition, and several riders say there's no traffic jams. But the traffic is heavy: trucks, cars and motorbikes come through fast, and there are a lot of cyclists, especially at weekends. Several recommend riding with great caution. There's also plenty of wind. One rider suggests bringing a wind jacket for the descent, which he finds spectacular.
Food and drink stops come up again and again in the reports. There are numerous stalls where you can grab breakfast, a bite to eat, a glass of orange juice, a hot or cold drink, and buy bread. Prices are considered reasonable, sometimes a bit on the high side. There are public toilets and a parking area, but one of them is considered unsafe because it sits right against the road. Others feel secure thanks to how busy the spot is.
Many local cyclists train there or do their Sunday ride there. Some recommend it as your first proper big climb, while others describe it as a serious challenge. One rider says he first rode it 45 years ago with friends, and even ended up racing them to the top. Another climbed it while fighting the flu. If you're riding on a weekday, bring a puncture repair kit.
17.9 km • 1198 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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