Coll de la Manxa

Overview

Coll de la Manxa is a short, honest category 4 climb that rewards steady effort over heroics. From a start elevation of 327 m it runs for 5.3 km to a summit of 545 m, a net gain of 218 m at an average gradient of 4.08%. That average places it firmly in the "tempo" bracket: taxing enough to demand a real pace, gentle enough that a rider with reasonable form can hold rhythm the whole way. With a maximum gradient of 7.21%, nothing here is truly savage, but the climb is not flat either — the numbers hide a bit of variation you will feel in the legs.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is the gap between the 4.08% average and the 7.21% maximum. A climb that averages just over 4% but touches 7.21% is not perfectly uniform; it carries steeper ramps balanced by shallower, more forgiving sections. Another clue sits in the elevation data. The net gain is 218 m, yet the total ascent is only 197 m — a 21 m difference that tells you the road does not climb relentlessly. Somewhere along its 5.3 km there is enough respite, or slight downhill, to make the running total of upward metres smaller than the raw start-to-summit difference. Expect the effort to come in waves: push where it kicks toward 7.21%, recover where it eases back below the 4.08% average.

Pacing Notes

Because the average sits at 4.08%, this is a climb you can ride close to threshold without blowing up, provided you meter the steeper pitches. Anchor your effort to your FTP: aim to sit around it on the shallow sections and allow short surges over it on the ramps toward 7.21%, then settle back. Over 5.3 km the whole thing is short enough that a small overreach is recoverable — but a big one early will cost you near the top. If you are not sure what wattage to target, run your recent efforts through the FTP estimator and pace to a number rather than to feel, especially on a first attempt.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 4.08% with a maximum of 7.21%, most riders will be comfortable on a compact setup. A 34×32 is plenty for the bulk of the 5.3 km, letting you spin the tempo sections and stay seated through the steeper ramps. If you prefer a lower cadence ceiling, run tired legs, or are carrying weight, a 34×34 gives you extra margin on the pitches nearing 7.21% without ever feeling over-geared on the shallower parts. Given the modest 218 m of gain, either will get you over comfortably — pick based on your usual climbing cadence.

Summary

Coll de la Manxa is a manageable category 4 climb: 5.3 km at 4.08% average, spiking to 7.21%, with just 218 m separating base and summit. Its slight ebb — 197 m of total ascent against a 218 m net gain — makes it a rhythm climb rather than a grind. Pace to your FTP, run a compact, and enjoy a summit within reach of most riders.

Length: 5.3 km
Average gradient: 4.08%
Max gradient: 7.21%
Start: 327 m
Summit: 545 m
Net gain: 218 m
Total ascent: 197 m
Category: 4