Coll de les Tres Creus o de la Pola

Overview

The Coll de les Tres Creus o de la Pola is a long, patient Category 2 climb that trades ferocity for endurance. Over its full 24.5 km, the road lifts you from 108 m at the base to a 916 m summit — a net gain of 808 m at an average gradient of just 3.3%. That modest average tells only part of the story. This is a climb you measure in kilometres, not minutes, and its low mean gradient hides a maximum pitch of 15.66% that can catch you flat-footed if you switch off. Think of it as a rhythm climb with an occasional sting.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 3.3% average across 24.5 km means the effort is spread thin and uneven. With a total ascent of 798 m recorded against a net gain of 808 m, the profile is close to relentlessly upward — there is very little in the way of descent or recovery to inflate the distance. The consequence is that shallow, drag-like sections dominate, punctuated by steeper kickers that spike toward the 15.66% maximum. Those ramps are where the climb reveals its true character. Expect long stretches where you can sit and turn a steady tempo, then a handful of sharp pinches that demand a gear change and a spike in effort before the road relents again.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. The trap is burning matches on the shallow lower slopes when there is no time bonus for going hard early. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a controlled, sustainable tempo across the 24.5 km — you want to arrive at the steepest pitches with reserves intact, not in debt. When the gradient jumps toward 15.66%, let your effort rise briefly above threshold, then settle back to tempo once the pitch eases. If you are unsure of your numbers, run the FTP estimator before you ride so your target zones are honest. The steady 3.3% average rewards a metronomic pace far more than repeated surges.

Gearing

With 808 m to gain and pitches touching 15.66%, gearing is about protecting your legs over the long haul, not just surviving one ramp. A compact chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will handle the bulk of the climb comfortably, letting you spin the shallow sections and stay seated. But for the steepest kickers near 15.66% — especially deep into the 24.5 km when fatigue has set in — a 34×34 buys you a genuinely lower rescue gear and keeps your cadence out of the grinding zone. If your bike accepts it, fit the 34×34 and thank yourself on the final pitches.

Summary

The Coll de les Tres Creus o de la Pola is an endurance test dressed as a gentle climb: a long, mostly upward 24.5 km haul that rewards patient pacing and a bailout gear for its 15.66% surprises. Fuel well, pace to your threshold, and let the 3.3% average carry you to the top.

Length: 24.5 km
Average gradient: 3.3%
Max gradient: 15.66%
Start: 108 m
Summit: 916 m
Net gain: 808 m
Total ascent: 798 m
Category: 2