Coll del Perer

Overview

Coll del Perer is a short climb only by the stopwatch. Across just 2.7 km it drags you from 12 m at the base to 386 m at the summit, a net elevation gain of 374 m. The total ascent works out to 351 m once the odd dip and flatten are accounted for. That distance-to-height ratio is what earns it a Category 1 rating: not the longest wall you will meet, but one of the steepest for its length. The average gradient of 14.04% is not a number that eases off with altitude — it is the baseline you fight the whole way up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining figure here is that 14.04% average. On most climbs the mean is padded by shallow ramps; on Coll del Perer there is very little padding. With a maximum of 22.35%, the steepest pitches sit more than 8 percentage points above an already savage average, so the hardest sections are punishingly steep rather than briefly awkward. Expect the road to hover in double digits almost continuously, with the gradient repeatedly clawing toward that 22.35% ceiling before settling back to something merely hard. Because the climb only spans 2.7 km, there is no long runway to build rhythm — you are on the steep the moment you start, and the 374 m of vertical arrives in a relentless rush.

Pacing Notes

Short and steep climbs reward restraint you will not want to give. The temptation is to attack the lower slopes, but at 14.04% average there is nowhere to recover, so anything above your sustainable ceiling early will cost you dearly near the top. Ride this one just under or at your FTP threshold — the effort should feel controlled-hard, not heroic, for the first half, leaving something for the pitches that stab toward 22.35%. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. Cadence will drop on the steepest ramps no matter how fit you are; the goal is to keep it from collapsing entirely.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. With a 14.04% average and ramps to 22.35%, most riders will want the easiest cassette they can fit. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 32-tooth sprocket — 34×32 — is the sensible minimum, and even strong climbers will be grateful for it on the steepest kicks. If your derailleur allows it, going to 34×34 gives you meaningful extra relief and lets you spin rather than grind through the worst of the gradient. The lower gear protects your knees and your pacing alike over the full 374 m of gain.

Summary

Coll del Perer is a pure test of power-to-weight over a short, savage 2.7 km. Gear low, pace with discipline, and respect that the average never lets up.

Length: 2.7 km
Average gradient: 14.04%
Max gradient: 22.35%
Start: 12 m
Summit: 386 m
Net gain: 374 m
Total ascent: 351 m
Category: 1