Alto de Zaragoza is a climb of 20.2 kilometers (hors catégorie). Alto de Zaragoza tops out at 952 m above sea level. It is located in n/a, La Libertad, El Salvador. The average gradient is 4.8% with a maximum of 13.7%. The climb has 979 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: This 20.2 km hors catégorie climb is genuinely tough because of its uneven profile. The 5% average gradient hides some big swings, with three hard sections: a kilometre at 9% (KM 3-4), a sustained 7% stretch (KM 6-8), and an 8% ramp in the final part (KM 14-15). The 1-2% false flats (KM 4-6 and KM 9-10) give you brief chances to recover.
Tips for pacing the effort:
1. Pacing: Resist the urge to go too hard in the first few kilometres, especially after the initial false flat. Keep your effort even, and use the easier sections (KM 1-2, 4-6, 9-10, 12-13) to recover without losing too much speed.
2. Plan for the key sections: When you approach the three steepest ramps (9%, 7%, 8%), shift to a slightly easier gear beforehand to keep a steady cadence and avoid blowing up your legs.
3. Save something for the finish: The gradient stays between 4% and 6% over the last 5 kilometres. Pacing yourself carefully early on is crucial if you want to have some punch left for that final part.
20.2 km • 979 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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