Coll de Gria

Overview

Coll de Gria is a short, friendly ascent that rewards momentum over suffering. It runs 5 km from a start elevation of 147 m to a 300 m summit, a net gain of 153 m. At a 3.08% average gradient it sits firmly in the category-4 bracket — the mildest of the classified climbs, and a long way from the hors catégorie monsters. That gentle mean is the headline number, but it hides a little more texture than the average alone suggests. The total ascent recorded across the route is 141 m, a touch under the net gain, which tells you the road climbs almost continuously with barely any descending to give back elevation. This is a climb you can ride at tempo, hold a rhythm, and clear without ever feeling truly pinned.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape here is the story. Spread 153 m of net gain over 5 km and you get that easy 3.08% average, but the 10.18% max gradient proves the road is not uniform. Somewhere in those 5 kilometres the slope more than triples its own average, so expect a pitch — or a couple of them — that briefly stand up and demand attention before the road relents again. Because the total ascent (141 m) tracks so closely to the net gain (153 m), there are effectively no flat recovery bench or false-flat descents to reset your legs; the gradient simply ranges from shallow to that single steep spike and back. Read it as a climb that is mostly soft-pedalling with one sharp reminder, rather than a sustained grind.

Pacing Notes

Treat Coll de Gria as an aerobic effort you can nearly ride through. At 3.08% average, a steady rider will spend most of the 5 km comfortably below threshold, so the smart play is to hold something near your FTP on the shallow sections and let it drift over on the 10.18% ramp rather than blowing the whole climb apart chasing that one steep metre. If you're not sure what your sustainable power is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first — knowing your ceiling turns this from a guessing game into a paced 5 km. The climb is short enough that a modest surge over the top costs you little, so save your match for the steep pitch.

Gearing

You do not need bailout gearing for a 3.08% average, but the 10.18% max is worth respecting if you like to spin. A standard compact with a 34×32 will comfortably cover the whole climb for most riders, letting you sit and turn a clean cadence even on the steep ramp. If you carry any fatigue, prefer a lower cadence, or simply want insurance on that 10.18% pitch, a 34×34 gives you a little extra headroom without any downside on a climb this short. Either setup is plenty — the difference is comfort, not survival.

Summary

Coll de Gria is a quick, well-mannered category-4 climb: 5 km of near-continuous rise with one honest 10.18% kick and an otherwise gentle 3.08% grade. Ride it at tempo, spin the steep bit, and you'll top out at 300 m with plenty in the tank.

Length: 5 km
Average gradient: 3.08%
Max gradient: 10.18%
Start: 147 m
Summit: 300 m
Net gain: 153 m
Total ascent: 141 m
Category: 4