Alto de la Collada

Overview

Alto de la Collada is a category 2 climb that trades brutality for length. Over 11.5 km it lifts you from a valley floor at just 36 m to a summit of 522 m — a net gain of 486 m at an average gradient of 4.23%. Those numbers describe a climb you can settle into rather than survive: nowhere does the road exceed 7.46%, so there is no wall to fear, only a long, sustained pull that rewards patience and a well-managed effort.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is defined by moderation. An average of 4.23% across 11.5 km means the road spends most of its time in a comfortable middle register — steep enough to keep you honest, shallow enough to keep you spinning. The 7.46% maximum tells you the ramps do stiffen in places, but only to roughly three points above the average, so the transitions feel like gentle swells rather than sudden steps.

Expect the gradient to breathe. A climb that averages 4.23% while peaking at 7.46% almost certainly hides softer sections below the mean, which means false flats and brief recoveries are folded between the harder pitches. The total ascent of 473 m sits just below the 486 m net gain, confirming there is very little descending mixed in — this is an honest, near-continuous climb rather than a rolling profile.

Pacing Notes

Because Collada never spikes, it is a climb won on discipline. The steady 4.23% average makes it a near-perfect tempo effort: hold a rhythm you could sustain for the full 11.5 km rather than attacking the 7.46% ramps and blowing your budget early.

A useful anchor is your FTP. On a climb this length, riding just below or right around threshold keeps you moving efficiently without redlining on the steeper swells. If you are unsure of your number, run it through the FTP estimator before you go, then aim to sit a touch under it on the shallower stretches and let it drift up only briefly where the road tips toward 7.46%.

Gearing

The moderate numbers give you room to keep things simple. For most riders a compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a 32-tooth cassette sprocket — a 34×32 — is more than enough to spin comfortably up the 4.23% average and over the 7.46% maximum without grinding.

If you favour a lighter touch, prioritise recovery over pure climbing power, or simply want to protect your knees across the full 11.5 km, step up to a 34×34. The extra sprocket keeps your cadence high on the steeper swells and lets you save your legs for the summit at 522 m. Riders with strong tempo legs can hold a smaller cassette, but there is no reason to over-gear a climb this friendly.

Summary

Alto de la Collada is a rhythm rider's climb: long, steady, and forgiving, asking for consistent tempo rather than raw punch. Settle in early, gear light, and let the mountain come to you.

Length: 11.5 km
Average gradient: 4.23%
Max gradient: 7.46%
Start: 36 m
Summit: 522 m
Net gain: 486 m
Total ascent: 473 m
Category: 2