Esquipulas Palo Gordo is a climb of 24.4 kilometers (hors catégorie). Esquipulas Palo Gordo tops out at 2,554 m above sea level. It is located in n/a, San Marcos, Guatemala. The average gradient is 8.6% with a maximum of 20%. The climb has 2092 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: This HC climb is brutal, both for its length (24.4 km) and its vertical gain (2092m). The real problem is the string of steep sections, with eight kilometres above 10% between km 8 and km 17. The hardest stretch is between km 8 and km 12, where the average gradient hits 11.75%.
How to manage the effort:
1. Pacing: Start very easy over the first 5 km (average gradient 2.8%) and keep something in the tank for the nasty bits ahead.
2. Save something for the steep bits: Keep both legs and head fresh for the central section (km 8-17), where the gradient stays high the whole way. Use the brief easier stretch at km 18 (6%) to recover before the final part.
3. Controlling your speed: On the long 10-12% ramps, hold a steady cadence and avoid surges. The last part is less steep (5%), so you can kick again if you still have the legs.
24.4 km • 2092 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
Join thousands of cycling fans! Plan your rides, record your performance, track your progress and discover the finest climbs.
Live climb profile to pace your effort all the way to the top.
Other climbs to Esquipulas Palo Gordo