Alto de Letras is a climb of 27.3 kilometers (hors catégorie). Alto de Letras tops out at 3,677 m above sea level. It is located in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia. The average gradient is 6.7% with a maximum of 14.7%. The climb has 1837 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: At 27.3 km, with 1837 m of elevation gain and an average gradient of 6.7%, the Alto de Letras is a very demanding HC climb. The start from Villamaría is gradual at 4% over km 0.0-1.0, but the gradient ramps up to 8% from km 1.0-2.0 and again from km 3.0-4.0. The only notable respite comes at km 10.0-11.0, where a slight descent at -1% gives you a breather before a hard finish, with 8% over km 12.0-14.0 and km 19.0-20.0.
Pacing tips:
1. Don't go out too hard. On that first kilometer at 4%, keep something in the tank so you can settle into the 8% sections at km 1.0-2.0 and km 3.0-4.0 without blowing up.
2. Make the most of the descent at km 10.0-11.0. That -1% stretch is the perfect chance to spin the legs, grab a drink and get some food in before the second half of the climb.
3. Keep a steady cadence to the top. In the final part, mix in some accelerations with a steady rhythm, and manage the 6% at km 26.0-27.0 so you reach the summit with energy left.
27.3 km • 1837 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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