Cycling: 88 kilometers of continuous climbing, an arrival at 4,138 meters… The colossal stage of the Tour de Colombie

The Tour de Colombie recently hosted a stage of epic proportions, featuring an unprecedented 88-kilometer continuous ascent to an altitude of 4,138 meters. This colossal climb, known as El Sifón, is the longest ever in a UCI-sanctioned race, demanding an astonishing 3,778 meters of elevation gain.

The stage began at 360 meters above sea level and concluded at a dizzying 4,138 meters, with average gradients of 4.3% and sections reaching 12%. Adding to the challenge, the route included the hors catégorie climb of Murillo, a 21-kilometer ascent averaging 6.4% gradient, all undertaken at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters. As riders climbed, oxygen levels dropped and temperatures plummeted to a mere 5 degrees Celsius at the finish line.

In comparison, the queen stage of the 2026 Tour de France involved four climbs totaling 67 kilometers of ascent and a summit at 2,642 meters, with descents and flat sections interspersed. The Tour de Colombie stage, however, was a relentless, continuous climb.

Colombian rider Diego Camargo of the Medellin team emerged victorious after nearly three and a half hours of grueling effort. This marked his second win on the El Sifón climb, having previously conquered it two years prior. This year's victory was slightly slower, taking 35 seconds longer than his previous record, with an average speed of 25 km/h for the 88-kilometer ascent. Camargo, who also won the Tour de Colombie in 2020 and placed second in 2024 and 2025, now leads the current edition of the race.