collada de Toses

Overview

Collada de Toses is a long, patient climb: 28.8 km of road that lifts you from a start at 699 m all the way to a 1919 m summit. That is a net elevation gain of 1220 m, spread thin enough that the average gradient sits at a manageable 4.24%. Officially it is a category 1 climb — one step below hors catégorie — and the number that earns it that rank is not the average but the distance. Nearly 29 km of continuous uphill is a full morning's work, and the total ascent of 1213 m confirms this is an almost uninterrupted drag rather than a rolling profile with hidden descents.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do not let the 4.24% average lull you. That figure is the mean across 28.8 km, and it hides real variation. Somewhere on the road the gradient spikes to 14.49% — more than three times the average — which tells you the climb is not perfectly even. Expect long stretches that sit below the average, where you can settle into a rhythm, punctuated by steeper ramps that force you out of the saddle. With 1220 m of net gain against 1213 m of total ascent, the profile is essentially all up: there is almost no respite in the form of false flats or downhill breathers. What you save on shallow sections you pay back on the pitches.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing is everything. Set off too hard on the early kilometres and the 14.49% ramp will find you empty. The smart approach is to ride the whole 28.8 km just below your FTP, leaving a reserve for the steep sections where you have no choice but to push. If you do not know your sustainable power, run the numbers first with the FTP estimator so your target is grounded in data rather than feel. Because the average is only 4.24%, you can afford to hold a steady, slightly conservative effort for most of the climb and spend your matches on the ramps rather than the flats.

Gearing

For 28.8 km at 4.24% you want gearing that lets you spin, not grind — your legs have to last more than an hour of climbing. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will carry most riders through the shallower kilometres comfortably, but given the 14.49% maximum and the sheer length before it, fit a 34×34 if your derailleur allows. That extra sprocket keeps your cadence up on the steep ramps and protects your knees over the full 1220 m of climbing. Easier gearing on a long climb is never wasted.

Summary

Collada de Toses rewards patience: a long, steady category 1 climb where distance, not gradient, is the challenge. Pace it below threshold, gear low, and let the 28.8 km come to you.

Length: 28.8 km
Average gradient: 4.24%
Max gradient: 14.49%
Start: 699 m
Summit: 1919 m
Net gain: 1220 m
Total ascent: 1213 m
Category: 1