Colladeta d'Abellers

Overview

Colladeta d'Abellers is a genuine hors catégorie test — the hardest classification a climb can carry, sitting above categories 1 through 4. Over 22.5 km it drags you from a start elevation of 869 m all the way to a 2415 m summit, a net gain of 1546 m. The average gradient reads 6.87%, which sounds civilised until you weigh it against the length: nearly an hour of sustained work for most riders, with a peak ramp of 33.79% lurking somewhere in the profile. This is a climb that rewards patience and punishes ego.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number, 6.87%, is an average — and averages hide the drama. With a maximum pitch of 33.79%, the profile is anything but uniform. The total ascent of 1514 m is slightly less than the 1546 m of net elevation gain, which tells you the road never truly relents into meaningful descent; the difference of 32 m is all it gives back over 22.5 km. Expect the gradient to breathe: stretches near the 6.87% mean where you can find rhythm, punctuated by steeper walls that spike toward that brutal 33.79% figure. On a climb this long, those spikes are where races are decided and where under-geared riders come undone.

Pacing Notes

Treat the full 22.5 km as a single sustained effort rather than a series of sprints. Because the average sits at 6.87% but the max hits 33.79%, holding a steady power target matters more here than on shorter climbs — surge on the ramps and you will pay across the remaining kilometres. A useful anchor is your FTP: most riders should settle into the lower band of threshold and preserve headroom for the steep pitches. If you are not sure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a pacing plan. With 1546 m of vertical to absorb, going a fraction too hard in the first third is the classic mistake — the summit at 2415 m is a long way up, and thin air near the top only compounds fatigue.

Gearing

Gearing is not optional on a climb with a 33.79% max. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 gives most fit riders enough range for the 6.87% average sections, but the steepest ramps will have you grinding — so if your legs or fitness leave any doubt, go to 34×34 and thank yourself on the walls. Over 22.5 km and 1546 m of gain, the extra sprocket costs you nothing on the mellower gradients and buys real cadence protection when the road tilts toward that 33.79% maximum. Err toward easier gearing here; spinning beats stalling.

Summary

Colladeta d'Abellers earns its HC status honestly: 22.5 km of climbing, 1546 m of net elevation gain, and a 33.79% wall to keep you honest. Pace it as one long threshold effort, gear low, and respect the distance from 869 m to 2415 m.

Length: 22.5 km
Average gradient: 6.87%
Max gradient: 33.79%
Start: 869 m
Summit: 2415 m
Net gain: 1546 m
Total ascent: 1514 m
Category: HC