Estacion Motriz Los Pelambres is a climb of 39.0 kilometers (hors catégorie). Estacion Motriz Los Pelambres tops out at 3,073 m above sea level. It is located in Tranquilla, Región de Coquimbo, Chile. The average gradient is 6.0% with a maximum of 16.5%. The climb has 2361 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty analysis: A demanding hors catégorie climb over 39 km. The difficulty lies in its length and in the consistently steep gradients (7-9%) over the second half, peaking at 11% at KM 34. The recovery sections (KM 5-6, 12-17) are too short to allow any meaningful recovery.
Pacing advice:
1. Ride within your endurance zone over the first third (KM 0-13), despite the moderate gradients, to build up energy reserves.
2. Anticipate the hard sections by studying the profile: KM 10-11 (9%) and KM 21-35 (mostly 7-11%) demand sustained muscular and cardiorespiratory effort.
3. Make the most of the very short flat stretches (KM 16.0-17.0 at 0%, KM 36.0-37.0 at 0%) to briefly ease the pressure on your legs and top up your fuel.
For riders chasing an authentic, hard climb, going up to Estacion Motriz Los Pelambres is all about raw reality. Riders' reports describe a road where the dust is everywhere, which comes straight from the mining activity all around. This isn't a sanitized climb. It's a ride you earn under tough conditions.
Despite the setting, those who've ridden it point out some positives. Reports mention that safety measures are respected, and some riders even make the trip to resupply the machinery, which suggests a certain familiarity with the place. Comments like "Excelente" and "Muy 👍" show that the effort is worth it for those who enjoy this kind of challenge.
In the end, this climb seems to reward only those who accept its industrial character. It's a ride of work and grinding effort, a "level" to beat for climbers after realistic sensations, far from postcard scenery. The satisfaction comes from conquering a unique and demanding environment.
39.0 km • 2361 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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