Coll de ses Cases de Neu

Overview

Coll de ses Cases de Neu is a category-1 climb that does not waste your time. Over 7.5 km it averages 8.59%, dragging you from a start elevation of 499 m to a summit at 1146 m — a net gain of 647 m. That average alone would earn respect on any ride, but the number that tells the real story is the maximum gradient of 28.75%, a wall steep enough to stop a spinning cadence dead. With a total ascent of 610 m recorded over its rolling profile, this is a climb where the vertical adds up relentlessly and the flat sections that would let you recover simply never arrive.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.59% average across 7.5 km means there is nowhere to hide. Think of the climb as a sustained load that occasionally lurches upward: long stretches sitting near or above the average, punctuated by pitches that ramp toward the 28.75% maximum. Because the net gain of 647 m is close to the total ascent of 610 m, the road climbs almost continuously — there is very little false-flat or descent to reset your legs. Expect the steepest ramps to feel disproportionately punishing this deep into a sustained effort, since a gradient nearly three and a half times the average arrives when you are already fatigued.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this long, pacing is everything. The 7.5 km distance is short enough to tempt you into starting hard, but the 8.59% average will punish anyone who overcooks the opening kilometres. Anchor your effort to your FTP: settle into a controlled sustainable power for the bulk of the climb and reserve headroom for the 28.75% pitches, where power will spike far above threshold whether you like it or not. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you plan this one. The goal is to arrive at the base of each steep ramp with something in reserve, then absorb the surge and return to your steady rhythm on the far side.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. With a 28.75% maximum and an 8.59% average sustained over 647 m of vertical, you want the lowest ratio you can reasonably run. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the baseline. Pair it with at least a 34×32 for the long grind, and if your derailleur allows it, go to 34×34 for real insurance on the steepest pitches. On gradients approaching 28.75%, even that easiest gear will have you grinding, so the extra sprocket buys you cadence, traction, and the ability to stay seated rather than burning matches out of the saddle.

Summary

Coll de ses Cases de Neu is a compact, uncompromising category-1 test: steep from the start, relentless in the middle, and brutal at its steepest. Gear low, pace to your threshold, and respect the wall.

Length: 7.5 km
Average gradient: 8.59%
Max gradient: 28.75%
Start: 499 m
Summit: 1146 m
Net gain: 647 m
Total ascent: 610 m
Category: 1