Coll de Bufatals

Overview

Coll de Bufatals is a short, sharp category-2 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact 3.4 km. Don't let the modest distance fool you: with an average gradient of 8.32% and a maximum that bites at 21.2%, this is a climb that demands respect from the first pedal stroke. You begin at 749 m and top out at 1033 m, a summit elevation that gives the effort a genuine mountain feel despite its brevity.

The headline numbers tell the story. Over those 3.4 km you climb from 749 m to 1033 m, a net elevation gain of 284 m, while the total ascent measures 264 m once the small undulations are accounted for. That the net gain slightly exceeds the total ascent hints at a road that mostly points relentlessly upward, with little in the way of recovery.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.32% average across 3.4 km is already firmly in the "hard" bracket, but averages hide the truth here. The 21.2% maximum is more than two and a half times the mean, so the climb is defined by its ramps rather than its steady sections. Expect stretches where the gradient sits comfortably in single digits, punctuated by walls that surge well past 20%.

With 284 m of net gain to distribute over 3.4 km, the road never truly flattens. There are no meaningful plateaus to soft-pedal and recover — every metre of the 264 m of total ascent is earned. Mentally, break the climb into thirds and treat each steep pitch as its own discrete effort rather than trying to hold one tempo throughout.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and short, pacing is about surviving the ramps without blowing apart. The 21.2% sections will spike your power far above threshold no matter how disciplined you are, so the goal is to keep your average effort near — but not over — your sustainable ceiling. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: on the shallower stretches, settle just below it to bank a little energy for the walls ahead.

If you're unsure where that ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride. Knowing your threshold lets you judge how deep you can go on each 20%-plus pitch without cracking before the 1033 m summit.

Gearing

Gearing is where Coll de Bufatals is won or lost. With a 21.2% maximum and an 8.32% average, this is not a climb for a racing setup. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible foundation.

A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the steadier sections, but on the 21.2% ramps it can leave you grinding at a cadence that shreds your legs. If your bike allows it, opt for a 34×34 — that extra sprocket buys precious cadence exactly where the road kicks hardest. For the 284 m of climbing ahead, spin light and save your knees.

Summary

Coll de Bufatals is proof that a climb doesn't need length to be formidable. In 3.4 km it delivers an 8.32% average, a 21.2% sting, and 284 m of elevation gain to a 1033 m summit — a category-2 test that rewards smart gearing and disciplined pacing.

Length: 3.4 km
Average gradient: 8.32%
Max gradient: 21.2%
Start: 749 m
Summit: 1033 m
Net gain: 284 m
Total ascent: 264 m
Category: 2