Coll de les Portes dolmen

Overview

The Coll de les Portes dolmen is a Category 1 climb that hides nothing. Over just 5.2 km it drags you from a near sea-level start at 7 m up to a summit of 489 m, a net gain of 482 m. That works out to an average gradient of 9.29%, a figure that would be punishing over half the distance and is genuinely severe sustained across the full climb. There is no long valley run-in here, no gentle warm-up to ease the legs into it. From the first pedal strokes the road tips up and stays up, and the 12.72% maximum gradient tells you the steepest ramps are steeper still than the already-demanding average.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of this climb is its consistency. With an average of 9.29% and a maximum of 12.72%, the spread between the two is modest, meaning there is little respite where the road flattens to let you recover. Instead of alternating between wall and plateau, the Coll de les Portes dolmen holds a relentless upward pitch. Expect the gradient to hover around and above the average for long stretches, spiking toward the 12.72% mark on its hardest ramps. Because the total ascent of 465 m is packed into so short a distance, every kilometre demands real work; there is no coasting section to bank recovery before the next effort.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is really about not blowing up in the opening kilometre. The temptation on a 5.2 km effort is to treat it like a sprint, but at 9.29% average you will spend most of the climb near or above threshold whether you like it or not. Ride it at or just under your FTP and accept that the 12.72% ramps will push you over it briefly. If you do not know your threshold, the FTP estimator will give you a working number to anchor your effort. Settle into a rhythm early, keep your breathing controlled, and save any surge for the final ramps toward the 489 m summit.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With a sustained 9.29% and pitches to 12.72%, you want the easiest gears you can reasonably fit. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring is the baseline. Paired with a 34×32, most riders will have enough range to keep a workable cadence on the average slopes, but on a climb this steep many will be happier still with a 34×34, which buys a little extra spin on the 12.72% ramps and protects the legs over the full 5.2 km. If your setup allows an even larger cassette, it will not go to waste here.

Summary

The Coll de les Portes dolmen is a short, savage, uniformly steep Category 1 climb: 5.2 km that never lets up, hauling you 482 m into the sky. Come with low gears, a disciplined start, and respect for that 9.29% average.

Length: 5.2 km
Average gradient: 9.29%
Max gradient: 12.72%
Start: 7 m
Summit: 489 m
Net gain: 482 m
Total ascent: 465 m
Category: 1