Coll de Torreferrera

Overview

Coll de Torreferrera is a short, honest climb that rewards steady effort over drama. At just 2.8 km with an average gradient of 3.8%, it sits firmly in category 4 — the gentlest rung on the scale that runs from HC (hors catégorie) down through 1, 2, 3, and 4. You start at 74 m and top out at 182 m, so the road lifts you 108 m of net elevation across its length. With a maximum pitch of only 5.61%, nothing here ambushes you; the challenge is holding a rhythm rather than surviving a wall.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The numbers tell a tidy story. A 3.8% average over 2.8 km and a 5.61% maximum means the climb never strays far from its baseline — the steepest ramp is less than two points above the average. That narrow spread makes Torreferrera one of the more consistent short climbs you will meet. Expect the grade to hover near 3.8% for most of the ascent, nudging toward 5.61% on its firmest section before easing back. Because net gain (108 m) exceeds the total ascent figure (94 m), the profile is almost entirely uphill with little in the way of false-flat relief or dips to break the effort. You climb, and you keep climbing, without ever tipping into leg-searing territory.

Pacing Notes

Torreferrera is best treated as a tempo effort. At these gradients most riders can sit comfortably below threshold and let momentum do the work. Aim to settle in at roughly your FTP minus a little, keeping cadence high and the effort even from bottom to top — there is no summit ramp that demands you save a match. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first so your target wattage matches the terrain. On a 2.8 km climb this shallow, the temptation is to over-gear and grind; resist it. A slightly quicker cadence keeps you fresher and lets you carry speed over the top where the road flattens toward 182 m.

Gearing

You do not need anything exotic here. With a 5.61% maximum and a 3.8% average, a standard compact setup is more than enough for most riders. A 34×32 lowest gear gives you comfortable spinning room to hold cadence the whole way up without straining, and it leaves you plenty of range for the flatter approach. If you prefer to stay seated and light on the pedals — or you are riding tired, loaded, or simply want to protect your legs for what comes after the summit — a 34×34 adds a touch more insurance without any real downside on a climb this brief. Either choice lets you focus on rhythm rather than survival.

Summary

Coll de Torreferrera is a friendly, consistent category 4 climb: short enough to attack, shallow enough to enjoy, and steady enough to pace cleanly from the 74 m base to the 182 m summit. Treat it as a tempo test, gear sensibly, and carry your speed over the top.

Length — 2.8 km
Average gradient — 3.8%
Max gradient — 5.61%
Start — 74 m
Summit — 182 m
Net gain — 108 m
Total ascent — 94 m
Category — 4