Coll de Lilla

Overview

Coll de Lilla is a Category 3 climb in Spain, running 8.7 km from a start elevation of 190 m up to a summit at 577 m. On paper the net elevation gain is 387 m and the average gradient sits at 4.44% — numbers that suggest a steady, moderate ascent. It is the kind of climb that looks like a warm-up on a route sheet and rides like something more demanding.

The reason is the gap between the net elevation gain and the total ascent. You gain 387 m net, but the road actually climbs 509 m in total — 122 m of that is undulation, ground you climb, give back, and climb again. That mismatch tells you the profile is not a clean uphill drag. Expect false flats, short descents, and repeated efforts that make the average gradient a poor guide to how the climb feels in the legs.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 4.44% average hides both the recovery and the pain. With 122 m of extra ascent packed into the profile, the road repeatedly kicks up well above average, then eases or drops, before ramping again. The steepest pitch touches 16.94% — more than three times the average — so there is at least one wall that demands a hard, out-of-saddle effort.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly descends, letting you spin
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each one steeper than the average
• A steepest ramp of 16.94% that forces you into your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing an even speed is a trap: you will overcook the ramps trying to hold a number and empty yourself before the top. Pace to an even effort instead, holding a steady sustainable power output across the climb and letting your speed rise on the flatter sections and fall on the steep ones. Absorb the short descents as free recovery rather than surging. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator beforehand and set a target you can carry through every ramp, not just the first.

Gearing

The 16.94% maximum pitch governs your gearing choice. On a ramp that steep, a standard chainset will leave you grinding at a cadence that shreds your legs. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you enough range to spin the steepest section without stalling. Check your setup before the ride, not at the base of the wall.

Summary

• Length: 8.7 km
• Average gradient: 4.44%
• Maximum gradient: 16.94%
• Net elevation gain: 387 m
• Total ascent: 509 m
• Category: 3

Coll de Lilla rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the 122 m of hidden climbing as the real story — not the gentle-looking average.