coll de S'Arracó

Overview

Coll de S'Arracó is a short but seriously steep test, packing a genuine punch into just 3.5 km. Over that distance it averages 8.76% and climbs 303 m net, from a low start at 58 m to a summit of 361 m. That is a Category 2 rating, and the number that tells the real story is the maximum gradient: 19.21%. This is not a climb you settle into and grind out over the better part of an hour. It is over quickly, but it will hurt the whole way up, and the pitches near the top of the scale demand respect from riders of every level.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure of 8.76% is already firmly in leg-sapping territory, but averages flatter the truth on a climb like this. With ramps reaching 19.21%, more than double the mean, the effort is far from even. Expect the road to lurch between sections that sit around or just above the average and sharp kicks that briefly more than double it. Because the climb is only 3.5 km long, there is no long false-flat to recover on; the 303 m of net gain is delivered in a tight, relentless package. The total ascent of 274 m is slightly less than the net figure, a sign the road climbs almost continuously with little rolling relief once you commit.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short and steep, pacing is really about damage control. Ride the steadier lower-percentage sections just below threshold so you have something left when the gradient spikes toward 19.21%. Those steepest ramps will punch you well over your FTP for short bursts whether you like it or not, so the goal is keeping the sustainable sections controlled rather than chasing a hard number on the wall itself. If you do not know your threshold, get a baseline first with the FTP estimator, then aim to hold the flatter stretches around it and simply survive the steep pitches. At 3.5 km, going slightly too hard early is recoverable; blowing up on a 19.21% ramp is not.

Gearing

Gear for the maximum, not the average. With ramps at 19.21%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up, but on gradients approaching 19.21% it leaves little margin, so a 34×34 is the smarter, knee-friendly choice for anything but the strongest legs. If your bike allows an even larger sprocket, take it. Spinning a slightly lower gear at higher cadence protects your legs across the steepest sections far better than muscling a bigger gear at low revs.

Summary

Coll de S'Arracó is a concentrated dose of climbing: short at 3.5 km, but brutally steep at 8.76% average and 19.21% at its worst. Gear low, pace the flatter sections, and brace for the ramps. It rewards preparation over bravado.

Length: 3.5 km
Average gradient: 8.76%
Max gradient: 19.21%
Start: 58 m
Summit: 361 m
Net gain: 303 m
Total ascent: 274 m
Category: 2