Collado de los Olivastros

Overview

Collado de los Olivastros is a compact, honest climb: 3.8 km of road that lifts you from 78 m at the base to a 292 m summit. That is a net gain of 214 m, and the profile does it at a steady 5.67% average gradient. As a category 3 ascent it sits in the middle of the scale — well short of the hors catégorie monsters, but long enough and steep enough to demand a real effort rather than a casual spin. The total ascent logged is 190 m, a touch below the net figure, which tells you the road climbs almost relentlessly upward with very little in the way of downhill relief once you commit.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The signature number here is the gap between the 5.67% average and the 7.24% maximum. That spread is modest, which means Los Olivastros is a consistent climb rather than a wall-and-recovery affair. You will not find long false flats to soft-pedal, nor brutal double-digit ramps to survive — instead the slope hovers around the mid-single digits for most of its 3.8 km, stiffening toward that 7.24% pinch at its hardest point. Because the total ascent (190 m) tracks so closely to the net gain (214 m), the road rarely gives anything back. Expect to be climbing from the first pedal stroke at 78 m all the way to the crest at 292 m.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this consistent, the winning strategy is to settle into a rhythm early and hold it. With only 3.8 km to cover, aim to ride the steady sections just under your threshold and reserve a little headroom for the 7.24% maximum. Riders who know their FTP can pace Los Olivastros almost by the numbers: target the flatter-average stretches at a comfortably hard, sustainable output, then let the effort drift up over threshold across the steepest pinch before easing back. If you are not sure of your threshold power, plug recent efforts into the FTP estimator and use that figure to anchor your target for the 214 m of climbing. The margin between average and max is small enough that surging repeatedly will cost you more than it gains.

Gearing

For a 5.67% average topping out at 7.24%, most riders will be comfortable on a compact setup. A 34×32 lowest gear gives you enough range to spin the steady sections and stay on top of the 7.24% maximum without grinding. If you prefer a higher cadence, tip toward endurance, or simply want insurance on tired legs, a 34×34 adds a welcome extra rescue gear for the same climb. Neither is overkill on a 3.8 km category 3 ascent — the goal is to keep your cadence up and your effort even across all 214 m of gain rather than muscling a big gear.

Summary

Collado de los Olivastros rewards steady, disciplined climbing. It is short, consistent, and never truly savage — a category 3 test measured in rhythm rather than raw suffering. Pace it just under threshold, carry a compact gear, and you will crest the 292 m summit having ridden a clean, efficient effort.

Length: 3.8 km
Average gradient: 5.67%
Max gradient: 7.24%
Start: 78 m
Summit: 292 m
Net gain: 214 m
Total ascent: 190 m
Category: 3