Passo Papallacta is a climb of 48.0 kilometers (hors catégorie). Passo Papallacta tops out at 4,061 m above sea level. It is located in San Francisco de Borja, Napo, Ecuador. The average gradient is 5.6% with a maximum of 22.7%. The climb has 2713 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: With 48 km at an average gradient of 5.6% and 2713 m of elevation gain, this climb is a pure endurance test, a typical HC (beyond category) ascent. The difficulty lies in its length and the variable gradient: several sections at 8-10% (KM 20, 32-33, 38, 41, 46) punctuate the effort, while flatter stretches at 0-3% (KM 12, 16, 31, 35) offer brief respite.
Effort management tips:
1. Pace yourself carefully: The climb is very long, so hold a steady output below your anaerobic threshold, especially in the early kilometers where the gradient is gentler.
2. Make the most of the easy sections: The low-gradient kilometers (like KM 12, a slight descent, or KM 35 at 0%) are key for recovering without losing too much speed.
3. Anticipate the hard stretches: Identify the steep sections (e.g. KM 41 at 10%) so you can tackle them with some energy in reserve and a steady cadence, without blowing up.
48.0 km • 2713 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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