Coll de Vista

Overview

Coll de Vista is a hors catégorie (HC) ascent — the top rung of the difficulty ladder, above categories 1, 2, 3 and 4. Over 15.9 km it climbs from a start elevation of 765 m to a summit of 1924 m, delivering 1159 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 7.29%. The total ascent logged on the road is 1102 m, a shade under the net figure, which tells you this is an honest, relentlessly upward climb rather than a rolling profile that gives back what it takes. There is very little respite baked into the numbers, and the 21.63% maximum gradient warns that the average badly understates the hardest moments.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 7.29% average across 15.9 km sounds steady, but the gap between that mean and the 21.63% maximum is the real story. With total ascent (1102 m) sitting close to net gain (1159 m), you rarely descend — the road simply keeps tilting up. Expect the gradient to oscillate around and above the average for long stretches, with short ramps spiking far into double digits before easing back toward something you can settle into. The steepest wall, at over 21%, is roughly three times the average, so treat any flatter section as recovery to bank before the next kick rather than a place to push.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to ride the sustained sections just below or at threshold, leaving headroom to absorb the ramps toward 21.63% without blowing apart. If you don't know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. The full 15.9 km at 7.29% will take most riders well beyond a single hard interval's worth of time, so start conservatively — the summit at 1924 m is a long way from the 765 m base, and the last kilometres are where an over-eager first half comes due.

Gearing

Gear for the walls, not the average. For most riders a compact 34-tooth inner paired with a wide cassette is the sensible floor here: 34×32 gives you a fighting cadence through the 7.29% stretches, but the 21.63% pitches are where it starts to feel heavy. If you spin lower cadences or carry any fatigue from earlier in a ride, step up to 34×34 for extra security on the steepest ramps. Over 1159 m of net climbing, the lower gear pays for itself in preserved legs long before the summit.

Summary

Coll de Vista earns its HC rating: 15.9 km of near-continuous climbing, a 7.29% average that hides 21.63% spikes, and 1159 m separating the 765 m start from the 1924 m top. Pace it to your threshold, gear low, and respect the length.

Length: 15.9 km
Average gradient: 7.29%
Max gradient: 21.63%
Start: 765 m
Summit: 1924 m
Net gain: 1159 m
Total ascent: 1102 m
Category: HC