Coll de la Pelegera

Overview

The Coll de la Pelegera is a category 4 climb that stretches 7 km from a start elevation of 786 m to a summit at 1050 m. On paper it reads as one of the gentler days out in the mountains: an average gradient of 3.75% and a maximum that never exceeds 6.84%. That combination puts it firmly in the "rolling tempo" bracket rather than the "grinding survival" one. Over the full ascent you gain 264 m of net elevation, with 248 m of measured total ascent — numbers that reward rhythm and patience far more than raw power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The shape of this climb is defined by its restraint. With an average of 3.75% spread across 7 km, there is no single wall that decides the day for you. The steepest pitch tops out at 6.84%, which is a gradient most riders can hold seated without their heart rate spiking into the red. Because the difference between total ascent (248 m) and net gain (264 m) is small, this is an honest, consistently upward road rather than a rollercoaster of false flats and dips. Expect long, readable stretches where you can settle into a gear and simply turn it over, with the sharper ramps arriving in short, digestible doses rather than sustained blocks.

Pacing Notes

Because the gradient rarely bites, the temptation is to attack from the bottom. Resist it. On a climb this steady, the smartest approach is to hold an even effort just below threshold and let the 7 km tick by. If you know your FTP, aim to sit a touch under it on the flatter early kilometres and reserve a little for the 6.84% pinches so your effort stays smooth rather than surging. Not sure where your threshold sits? Run the numbers through the FTP estimator before your next attempt and set a target power you can hold across the whole 264 m of climbing. A climb like this is where disciplined, boring pacing quietly beats heroics.

Gearing

With a maximum of 6.84% and an average of 3.75%, the Pelegera does not demand deep mountain gearing. Most riders on a compact chainset will be perfectly comfortable with a 34×32, which leaves enough range to spin the steeper pitches without ever mashing. If you prefer to keep your cadence high, run tired legs, or are simply carrying luggage, a 34×34 gives you a little extra insurance on the 6.84% sections while costing you nothing on the flatter stretches. Either setup lets you stay seated and rhythmic across all 7 km — the goal here is a light, floating cadence, not a struggle for leverage.

Summary

The Coll de la Pelegera is an approachable, rhythm-friendly ascent: 7 km at 3.75%, topping out at 6.84%, climbing 264 m from base to summit. It rewards steady pacing and moderate gearing, making it an ideal climb to practise holding an even effort.

Length: 7 km
Average gradient: 3.75%
Max gradient: 6.84%
Start: 786 m
Summit: 1050 m
Net gain: 264 m
Total ascent: 248 m
Category: 4