Coll de Codera

Overview

Coll de Codera is a compact category 3 climb that packs a real punch into its 4.1 km. From a low start at just 37 m, the road lifts you to a summit of 301 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 264 m over a total ascent of 253 m. The average gradient sits at 6.39%, which puts it firmly in the sustained-effort bracket: steep enough to demand respect, short enough to attack. This is the kind of climb where pacing decisions made in the first kilometre echo all the way to the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not let the 6.39% average lull you. An average is a smoothed number, and the profile here hides sharper pitches, with the gradient spiking to 9.95% at its steepest. Because the net gain of 264 m slightly exceeds the total ascent of 253 m, the road climbs almost relentlessly — there is little in the way of false flat or recovery to give the legs a breather. Expect a climb that leans consistently against you, then ramps up toward that near-10% maximum where the effort tips from tempo into genuine strain. Reading the road ahead matters: hold something back on the shallower ramps so the steep sections do not blow your rhythm apart.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short, the temptation is to go hard from the base — and on 4.1 km that can work, but only if you know your ceiling. Aim to ride the bulk of the climb at or just below your FTP, then allow yourself to surge over the 9.95% pitches, absorbing them out of the saddle rather than grinding. With only 264 m to gain, the entire effort is measured in minutes, not hours, so a modestly above-threshold pace is sustainable for most riders. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target — it turns guesswork into a repeatable, defensible pacing plan.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 6.39% with ramps to 9.95%, gearing should prioritise a cadence you can actually hold when the road bites. A compact 34-tooth inner ring paired with a 34×32 low gear gives most riders enough range to spin the steep pitches without lurching into a grind. If you carry less climbing power, or simply prefer to keep the legs turning over, step down to a 34×34 — the extra tooth buys meaningful relief on the steepest sections and keeps your effort aerobic rather than muscular. Either way, err toward the easier ratio; on a punchy climb, spinning beats mashing.

Summary

Coll de Codera rewards riders who respect its steady gradient and stay disciplined over its sharper ramps. Short, honest, and consistently uphill, it is an ideal climb for testing threshold pacing and dialling in your gearing choices.

Length: 4.1 km
Average gradient: 6.39%
Max gradient: 9.95%
Start: 37 m
Summit: 301 m
Net gain: 264 m
Total ascent: 253 m
Category: 3