Collado de los Farraldos

Overview

Collado de los Farraldos is a Category 3 climb in Spain. It runs 4.9 km from a start elevation of 590 m to a summit at 817 m, for a net elevation gain of 227 m. At an average gradient of 4.66%, it sits firmly in the tempo range rather than the punchy or brutal end of the spectrum.

That average, though, is only part of the story. Against a net gain of 227 m, the climb records a total ascent of 268 m. That 41 m gap is undulation: sections where the road dips or flattens before climbing again. On paper the effort looks steady, but in practice you pay for that extra 41 m of vertical, and the rolling terrain breaks any clean rhythm you try to settle into.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.66% average hides the real shape of the road. The 41 m of extra ascent has to be recovered somewhere, which means flatter or descending sections offset by steeper ramps. The steepest pitch bites at 12.78%, roughly two and a half times the average, so the effort is front-loaded onto short, sharp segments rather than spread evenly.

• Flatter or slightly descending recovery sections that let speed build but blunt your climbing rhythm
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each demanding a fresh surge of effort
• A steepest ramp at 12.78% that forces you well above your average power

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, even climb you can hold steady power and let speed drift. Here, the undulation makes even-speed pacing a trap: chasing a constant speed over the 12.78% ramp will spike your effort and cook you before the summit. Pace to power instead. Anchor your ride around your sustainable power output, holding steady watts through the steep pitches and easing on the flatter recovery sections rather than hammering them. If you do not know your number, run the FTP estimator before the climb so your target is grounded in real data, not guesswork.

Gearing

The 12.78% maximum gradient is what dictates your setup, not the 4.66% average. To spin rather than grind those ramps, run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you the range to keep cadence up when the road kicks. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up the steepest pitch is a mistake you only make once.

Summary

• Length: 4.9 km
• Average gradient: 4.66%
• Maximum gradient: 12.78%
• Net elevation gain: 227 m
• Total ascent: 268 m
• Category: 3

Collado de los Farraldos is a manageable Category 3 effort, but its 41 m of undulation and a 12.78% steepest ramp reward riders who pace to power and gear low. Set your target watts, check your cassette, and let the rolling terrain work for you rather than against you.