Collado de Cuatro Caminos

Overview

Collado de Cuatro Caminos is a long, low-gradient Category 2 climb that trades brute steepness for sheer duration. Over 20.3 km the road lifts you from 129 m at the base to 849 m at the summit — a net gain of 720 m at an average of just 3.55%. On paper that gentle mean makes it sound like a warm-up, but 20.3 km is a long time to hold any tempo, and the average hides a max pitch of 18.36% that can undo a rider who never respects it. This is a climb of patience first, punch second.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline numbers tell a story of contrast. A 3.55% average across 20.3 km implies a steady, rolling drag rather than a relentless wall — the kind of grade you can ride seated and rhythmic for long stretches. But the 18.36% maximum is more than five times that average, which means the climb is not uniform. Somewhere in those 20.3 km the road pitches into a ramp steep enough to break your cadence entirely. Note too that total ascent (733 m) exceeds net gain (720 m) by 13 m: the profile includes small descents or false flats where you claw back and give up a little elevation before pressing on. Expect a climb that undulates rather than climbs cleanly, with the hardest kick lurking to catch tired legs.

Pacing Notes

With a low 3.55% average, the temptation is to attack from the bottom — resist it. Set your effort to a pace you can hold across the full 20.3 km, targeting a percentage of your FTP that leaves headroom for the 18.36% ramp. On the shallow sections, ride just below threshold; when the gradient spikes, a brief surge over threshold is fine, but recover on the grade that follows. If you don't know your threshold power, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a race-day plan. The 720 m of net gain is earned gradually, so metering your effort beats any heroics in the opening kilometres.

Gearing

Despite the modest average, gear for the steep bit, not the mean. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette gives you the range to spin the shallow drag efficiently and survive the 18.36% pitch without grinding to a crawl. A 34×32 is a sensible minimum for most riders here, letting you keep cadence on the ramps. If you carry any fatigue from the length, or you prefer to protect your knees over 20.3 km, step up to a 34×34 for extra insurance on the steepest section. Either way, having one gear in reserve when the road bites is worth more than saving weight.

Summary

Collado de Cuatro Caminos rewards the disciplined climber: a long, forgiving average with one genuinely nasty kick. Pace it patiently, gear it generously, and the 720 m of climbing unfolds under you without drama.

Length: 20.3 km
Average gradient: 3.55%
Max gradient: 18.36%
Start: 129 m
Summit: 849 m
Net gain: 720 m
Total ascent: 733 m
Category: 2