Collado de Remoña

Overview

Collado de Remoña is a genuine hors catégorie (HC) test, the kind of climb that rewards patience and punishes ego. Over its 17.2 km it averages 7.3%, dragging you from a valley floor at 218 m all the way up to a summit at 1473 m. That is 1255 m of net elevation gain, with 1239 m of total ascent once you account for the rolling sections along the way. On paper the average looks steep but survivable; the sting is in the spikes, where the road ramps up to a leg-snapping 19.66%. This is a climb where the number that matters is not the average — it is the standard deviation around it.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 7.3% average across 17.2 km is deceptive. If the road held a steady 7.3% the whole way it would be a long, rhythmic grind. Instead, the gap between the 7.3% average and the 19.66% maximum tells you the true story: there are pitches here more than twice as steep as the mean. Those ramps have to be balanced by shallower recovery sections elsewhere, so expect the gradient to swing constantly rather than settle. The near-symmetry between net gain (1255 m) and total ascent (1239 m) confirms the climb is almost relentlessly upward — there is very little descending to break the effort, so almost every metre you gain, you keep. Treat each steep pitch as a discrete problem to solve, not a wall to power through.

Pacing Notes

The single biggest mistake on a climb like this is going out too hard on the first steep ramp and blowing before the halfway mark. With 17.2 km ahead of you, discipline early is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to sit just below it on the steady sections, saving headroom for the 19.66% spikes where holding any wattage cap becomes impossible. On those maximum pitches, accept that your power will surge — the goal is to keep the surge brief. If you do not know your threshold number, run it through the FTP estimator before you start, then build your pacing around it. Over 1255 m of climbing, consistency beats heroics every time.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. For most riders tackling an HC climb with ramps to 19.66%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible floor. A 34×32 will get many strong climbers up the steady 7.3% stretches, but on the steepest pitches you will be grinding at low cadence and high torque. If you have any doubt about your form over 17.2 km — or you simply want to spin rather than mash — fit a 34×34. The extra range costs you nothing on the shallower sections and buys you a cadence lifeline exactly where the road tries to buck you off.

Summary

Collado de Remoña earns its HC billing honestly: long, steep, and topped with brutal ramps. Come with a plan, the right gearing, and a threshold number you trust.

Length: 17.2 km
Average gradient: 7.3%
Max gradient: 19.66%
Start: 218 m
Summit: 1473 m
Net gain: 1255 m
Total ascent: 1239 m
Category: HC