Pascua Lama is a climb of 199.5 kilometers (hors catégorie). Pascua Lama tops out at 4,968 m above sea level. It is located in n/a, Región de Atacama, Chile. The average gradient is 3.1% with a maximum of 17.3%. The climb has 6278 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: This HC climb covers 199.5 km, which makes it exceptionally long, but the 3% average gradient is misleading. The real difficulty lies in its uneven profile and an extremely demanding finish. The last 50 km feature sustained gradients of 5% to 15%, with a peak of 15% at KM 195. That makes it the final test after more than 6000m of climbing.
Effort management tips:
1. Pacing: Hold your power strictly over the first 150 km, which mix false flats and short climbs. Avoid blowing up before the final.
2. Save something for the finale: Keep physical and mental reserves for the section from KM 150 onward, where the gradients get tough and relentless.
3. Fueling strategy: Drink and eat constantly during the first part to offset the extreme length of the effort, which is crucial for holding on on the steepest pitches late in the stage.
199.5 km • 6278 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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