Alto de los Cardones is a climb of 54.1 kilometers (hors catégorie). Alto de los Cardones tops out at 3,355 m above sea level. It is located in Municipio de Chicoana, Salta, Argentina. The average gradient is 5.5% with a maximum of 12.6%. The climb has 2986 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: At 54.1 km, this climb is a real endurance test. The difficulty lies in its exceptional length and uneven profile. The first half (0-27 km) features moderate gradients (2-4% on average), serving as a progressive warm-up. The second half (27-52 km) is much tougher, with a sustained stretch of 5-8% grades, including a full kilometre at 8%, which taxes both your legs and your head.
Pacing advice:
1. Pace management: Resist the urge to go hard in the first 30 kilometres. Use these moderate sections to settle into a breathing and heart rate you can hold for a very long time.
2. Anticipate the key sections: Mentally mark the steepest kilometres (32-33 at 8%, 26-27 at 5%, 46-47 at 6%) so you hit them fresh. Ease off slightly on the short flat stretches (like at KM 28 or 42) to recover.
3. Strategic fueling: A climb of this length demands a strict approach to hydration and energy intake. Plan regular feeds from the start to avoid bonking in the hard part.
54.1 km • 2986 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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