Coll dels Ocells

Overview

Coll dels Ocells is a category 4 climb that trades drama for rhythm. Over 6.5 km it lifts you from a near-sea-level start at 7 m to a summit of 216 m, a net gain of 209 m. The average gradient sits at a friendly 3.2%, and even the steepest ramp tops out at just 5.7%. This is a climb you ride through rather than survive — a place to settle into a tempo and hold it, not a wall that forces you into the red.

The gap between the 209 m net gain and the 196 m of total ascent tells you the road isn't relentlessly upward. There are short flatter shelves woven into the climb, so the profile breathes rather than clawing skyward without pause.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 3.2% average across 6.5 km, no single section demands heroics. The 5.7% max gradient is the sharpest the road ever gets — steep enough to register in your legs, gentle enough that you can ride straight over it without dropping to your lowest gear. Expect the bulk of the climb to hover close to that 3.2% mean, with the 5.7% pinches appearing in brief bursts rather than sustained blocks.

Because total ascent (196 m) sits below the net gain (209 m), the climb offers small recoveries — softer gradients where the road nearly levels. Use those shelves to shake out your legs, not to coast; on a grade this shallow, momentum is your friend and every soft-pedaled metre is speed you'll have to rebuild.

Pacing Notes

This is a tempo climb, plain and simple. At 3.2% average you should be riding at a controlled, sustainable effort — a shade under your threshold, breathing hard but in control. Aim to keep power steady rather than chasing surges over the 5.7% ramps.

Your FTP is the number that matters here. On a climb this steady, riding just below FTP lets you hold a strong pace across the full 6.5 km without blowing up before the 216 m summit. If you're not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator and set your target watts before you start climbing. Then hold that line — no hero moves on the pinches, no coasting on the shelves.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 3.2% with a 5.7% max, you don't need mountain gearing — you need something that lets you spin comfortably at tempo. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 32-tooth cog (34×32) is plenty for most riders to sit and spin the steeper 5.7% sections without grinding.

If you prefer to spin lighter, or you're tackling this at the end of a long day, a 34×34 gives you a touch more room to keep your cadence high and your legs fresh. Either way, the goal is smooth pedaling — this climb rewards a fluid tempo far more than raw torque.

Summary

Coll dels Ocells is an approachable, rhythmic category 4 climb: 6.5 km of steady 3.2% grade with nothing steeper than 5.7%, lifting you 209 m to a 216 m summit. Ride it at tempo, keep your cadence smooth, and enjoy a climb built for flow rather than suffering.

Length: 6.5 km
Average gradient: 3.2%
Max gradient: 5.7%
Start: 7 m
Summit: 216 m
Net gain: 209 m
Total ascent: 196 m
Category: 4