coll de la Creueta

Overview

Coll de la Creueta is a short, honest category 3 climb. Over just 2.9 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 14 m to a summit at 209 m, a net gain of 195 m. The recorded total ascent is 177 m, which tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with very little in the way of false flats or recovery dips along the way.

The headline number is a 6.73% average gradient. That is steep enough to hurt but shallow enough to keep turning over a rhythm, and with a maximum gradient of only 7.66% the climb never spikes into leg-breaking territory. This is a consistency test, not an ambush.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Coll de la Creueta is how tightly its numbers cluster. An average of 6.73% sitting just under a maximum of 7.66% means the gap between "typical" and "hardest" is barely a percentage point. There is no hidden ramp waiting to break your pacing.

Expect the road to settle quickly into its working gradient and hold it. Because the net gain of 195 m sits above the total ascent figure of 177 m, essentially every metre of road tilts upward. You will not be handed free speed on descents mid-climb, so the effort you commit is the effort you keep spending until the 209 m summit.

Pacing Notes

With only 2.9 km to cover, the temptation is to attack from the base. Resist it. A climb this uniform rewards a steady power target far more than surges. Pick an effort you can hold to the top and let the 6.73% average do the accounting.

Anchor your pacing to your FTP. On a climb near 3 km, most riders can sit slightly above threshold and survive to the summit, but that only works if you know your number. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run your recent efforts through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target here.

Because the gradient barely varies, your pacing plan can be genuinely simple: one effort, held clean, from 14 m all the way to 209 m. Save any real acceleration for the final stretch, when you know the 195 m of gain is nearly banked.

Gearing

At 6.73% average and 7.66% maximum, Coll de la Creueta is well within reach of standard climbing gearing. A compact chainset with a 34×32 low gear gives most riders enough range to spin the steepest 7.66% pitches without grinding, and on a climb this short you will rarely feel starved for options.

If you carry extra fatigue, prefer a higher cadence, or expect to climb this after a long day, step up to a 34×34. That extra sprocket buys a small but welcome margin over the uniform gradient and keeps your cadence comfortable across the full 2.9 km. Either 34×32 or 34×34 is a sound choice; the deciding factor is your legs, not the road.

Summary

Coll de la Creueta is a compact, consistent climb that rewards discipline over aggression. Its steady 6.73% gradient, modest 7.66% maximum and short 2.9 km length make it an ideal effort for practising even pacing and dialling in your threshold.

Length: 2.9 km
Average gradient: 6.73%
Max gradient: 7.66%
Start: 14 m
Summit: 209 m
Net gain: 195 m
Total ascent: 177 m
Category: 3