Coll de Lli

Overview

Coll de Lli is a category 2 climb that covers 11.4 km at an average gradient of 5.56%. It starts low, at 80 m of elevation, and tops out at 713 m, giving you a net gain of 633 m from base to summit. The steepest pitch reaches 10.01%, so while the average keeps this in solid tempo territory, there are moments that demand real effort.

The shape here is honest and sustained rather than explosive. With 605 m of total ascent packed into that 11.4 km, the road climbs steadily most of the way, and the gap between the 5.56% average and the 10.01% maximum tells you the difficulty is concentrated in a handful of steeper ramps rather than spread evenly.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Coll de Lli as a long, rolling ascent with a few sharp teeth. An average of 5.56% is the kind of grade you can settle into and hold for a long time, but the 10.01% maximum means the climb nearly doubles its average pitch at its hardest. Those ramps are where the climb is won or lost.

Because net gain (633 m) sits above total ascent (605 m), the road climbs almost continuously — there is very little descending to give your legs a break. Expect to keep pressure on the pedals across most of the 11.4 km, saving something extra for the sections that kick toward 10%.

Pacing Notes

Pace this one off your sustainable power. The 5.56% average over 11.4 km is a classic threshold-style effort, so anchor your ride around your FTP and resist the urge to chase surges on the flatter stretches.

If you don't know your threshold number yet, run the FTP estimator before you tackle Coll de Lli — knowing that ceiling turns the 10.01% ramps from a guessing game into a managed effort. On the steep pitches, allow your power to drift above threshold briefly, then ease back to your target on the shallower gradients so your average effort stays controlled across all 633 m of climbing.

Gearing

For a climb of this profile — 11.4 km averaging 5.56% with ramps to 10.01% — you want a compact setup with room to spin. A 34×32 will handle most of the ascent comfortably and keep your cadence up on the sustained tempo sections.

If you're a lighter-wattage rider, carrying fatigue, or you simply prefer to sit and spin the steep pitches, a 34×34 gives you meaningful extra relief when the road tilts toward 10%. Either way, the goal is to avoid grinding at low cadence on the hardest ramps, which is where a bailout gear pays for itself over 605 m of climbing.

Summary

Coll de Lli rewards steady, disciplined riding. Respect the 10.01% ramps, ride to your threshold, gear low enough to keep spinning, and the 633 m of gain from 80 m to 713 m will come to you without blowing up.

Length: 11.4 km
Average gradient: 5.56%
Max gradient: 10.01%
Start: 80 m
Summit: 713 m
Net gain: 633 m
Total ascent: 605 m
Category: 2