Coll de Portells

Overview

Coll de Portells is an 11 km climb that earns its category 2 rating through sustained effort rather than raw brutality. From a low start at 74 m it works its way up to a summit of 699 m, a net gain of 625 m over its length. The average gradient of 5.67% sits comfortably in the range that most riders can hold seated, but the numbers hide a sting: at its steepest the road pitches up to 17.68%, more than triple the average. That gap between the mean and the maximum is what defines this climb. Get the average wrong in your head and the steep sections will punish you.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the shape of the climb becomes clear. An average of 5.67% across 11 km implies a net gain of roughly 625 m, yet the recorded total ascent is 607 m. The two figures being close tells you this is an honest, mostly-upward road with little descending or flat relief to break the rhythm. The 17.68% maximum, standing so far above the 5.67% mean, means the gradient is uneven: gentle stretches well below average must exist to balance out that ramp. Expect the effort to arrive in waves rather than as one constant grind. The single hardest pitch is where you will either hold form or blow apart.

Pacing Notes

The smart approach on a climb like this is to ride the average, not the moment. Anchor your effort to your FTP and let the steep ramp toward 17.68% push you briefly above threshold without chasing it back down on the easier grades. Over 11 km, small surges are expensive; a rider who paces evenly will nearly always beat one who yo-yos. If you are not sure where your sustainable ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your climbing pace. On the 17.68% section, drop your cadence target rather than your power and simply survive it — it is short relative to the whole 11 km.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 5.67% but spiking to 17.68%, gearing is your best insurance. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to spin the bulk of the 11 km without straining. But that maximum pitch is the deciding factor: if your legs are heavy or your fitness is short of your target FTP, a 34×34 is the wiser choice. The extra sprocket costs almost nothing on the gentle stretches and buys you a genuine escape hatch on the steepest ramp. When in doubt on a climb with a gradient this uneven, take the easier gear.

Summary

Coll de Portells rewards riders who respect the gap between its 5.67% average and its 17.68% maximum. Pace to the mean, gear for the spike, and 625 m of climbing over 11 km unfolds as a satisfying, rhythmic ascent to 699 m rather than a fight for survival.

Length: 11 km
Average gradient: 5.67%
Max gradient: 17.68%
Start: 74 m
Summit: 699 m
Net gain: 625 m
Total ascent: 607 m
Category: 2