El Giro de Rigo: the routes and how to prepare
- Distance
- 181 km
- Climbing
- 3,600 m
- Highest point
- 1,992 m
- Categorised climbs
- 13 · up to 18 %
- Shape
- Point to point
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
644–1,992 m · 13 categorised climbsThe 6 biggest of 13 categorised climbs, in the order you ride them.
El Giro de Rigo is the gran fondo of the Colombian professional Rigoberto Urán, held in a different region of Colombia every year. The 2026 edition was ridden on 1 November 2026 from Cali, in the Valle del Cauca, over two routes: the Reto Salsa, about 180 km with 3,200 m of climbing, and the Reto Caña, 68 km with 1,700 m. The next edition's region and date have not been announced yet.
Giro de Rigo at a glance
- Where
- Colombia, a different region every year
- Official website
- elgiroderigo.com ↗
- Next edition
- Date to be confirmed by the organiser
- Routes
- Reto Salsa: 180 km, 3,200 m climbing · Reto Caña: 68 km, 1,700 m climbing
- Terrain
- Mountain — long climbs
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Giro de Rigo, 181 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
El Giro de Rigo offers 2 routes.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Reto Salsa (2026) | 180 km | 3,200 m |
| Reto Caña (2026) | 68 km | 1,700 m |
What the course asks of you
In 2026 both routes left Cali by the climb to Kilómetro 18 and dropped towards Dagua; the Reto Salsa continued past Loboguerrero to the Lago Calima area, Yotoco, Restrepo, Vijes and Yumbo, the Reto Caña through La Cumbre and Bitaco. Both finished at the Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacífico.
Whatever the region, Colombian terrain means long climbs and descents with big changes of temperature between the valleys and the heights. Train the long climb, and carry enough clothing and food for the change.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train long climbs: steady efforts of 30 to 60 minutes just below your threshold match the cols of El Giro de Rigo far better than short intervals.
- Build the long day: rides of five to seven hours in the final two months, towards the 180 km of the route you choose.
- Practise eating and drinking on a schedule, and descending: a mountain day is as much going down as going up.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Treating the first climb of El Giro de Rigo as a race: a long col ridden above the pace you can hold for hours costs you the rest of the day.
- Saving nothing for the last climb, where the most kilometres are already in your legs.
- Skipping food on the descents: the next climb starts with what you ate on the way down.
Prepare El Giro de Rigo with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing El Giro de Rigo, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is El Giro de Rigo?
The organiser has not announced the next edition's date yet. Event Coach lets you set your own target date until it does.
How long are the routes of El Giro de Rigo?
Reto Salsa: 180 km with 3,200 m of climbing; Reto Caña: 68 km with 1,700 m of climbing. The 2026 Cali routes as reported by El País (Cali) from the organiser; the host region changes every year.
How many riders take part?
About 10,000 riders were expected in 2026, from more than 35 countries, according to El País (Cali).
Can I ride the course of El Giro de Rigo in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.