Collado de las Launas

Overview

Collado de las Launas is a compact climb with real bite. Over just 3.5 km it averages 6.5%, which puts it firmly in the category of efforts you can attack rather than merely survive. You start near sea level at 14 m and top out at 242 m, a net gain of 228 m earned in the space of a short, focused push. It carries a category 3 rating — not the brutal, hors catégorie tier reserved for the giants, but steep and sustained enough to sting the legs of anyone who mistimes the effort.

The headline numbers tell the story: 3.5 km, 6.5% average, and a maximum pitch of 9.33%. That gap between average and maximum is the key to reading this climb. It is not a wall, but it is not a passive drag either. It rewards riders who can hold a firm tempo and cover the sharper ramps without blowing apart.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an average of 6.5% and a peak of 9.33%, the difference between the two — 2.83 percentage points — tells you the climb leans harder in places than the mean suggests. Expect stretches that sit comfortably around the average, punctuated by pitches that push toward that 9.33% maximum.

The total ascent of 213 m sits just below the 228 m net gain, a sign the road climbs almost continuously rather than trading big descents for big climbs. In practical terms, once you tip onto the lower slopes you keep going up. There is little respite built into the profile, so the effort is honest: 3.5 km of near-constant elevation, with the steepest sections asking the most from your legs before the gradient eases toward the 242 m summit.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this short, pacing is everything. At 3.5 km you do not have the luxury of settling into a long rhythm and slowly finding your legs — you are committed almost from the first pedal stroke. Aim to ride the 6.5% average sections just at or slightly below your threshold, keeping a little in reserve for the ramps that approach 9.33%.

If you do not know your ceiling, anchor the effort to your FTP and treat this as a sustained above-tempo push rather than an all-out sprint. Not sure of your number? Run the FTP estimator first, then target a wattage you can hold for the full 3.5 km. Go too hard on the early slopes and the steeper pitches will expose you before the 242 m top.

Gearing

For a 3.5 km climb averaging 6.5% with pitches to 9.33%, a compact setup handles it comfortably for most riders. A 34×32 will let you spin the average gradient and stay seated through the steeper ramps without grinding to a crawl. If you prefer to protect your cadence — or you are carrying fatigue, luggage, or simply want to keep the effort aerobic — step up to a 34×34 for extra margin on the pitches nearing 9.33%. Stronger riders can hold a slightly bigger gear given the climb is over quickly, but the 34×32 to 34×34 range covers the vast majority of legs on this one.

Summary

Collado de las Launas is a short, spirited category 3 test: 3.5 km of near-continuous climbing, a friendly-on-paper 6.5% average that hides ramps to 9.33%, and 228 m of net gain from base to summit. Pace it firmly, gear it sensibly, and it becomes one of the more satisfying quick climbs to attack.

Length: 3.5 km
Average gradient: 6.5%
Max gradient: 9.33%
Start: 14 m
Summit: 242 m
Net gain: 228 m
Total ascent: 213 m
Category: 3