Collado del Aire

Overview

Collado del Aire is a category 2 climb in Spain (ES) that runs for 31.1 km from a low valley floor to a high summit. It starts at 98 m and tops out at 1126 m, giving a net elevation gain of 1028 m. At 3.31% average gradient, it reads on paper as a steady, moderate ascent — the kind of long, rhythmic effort that rewards patience over punch.

That average is misleading. The total ascent is 1640 m, well above the 1028 m net gain, which means roughly 612 m of climbing is repaid by descents scattered through the route. You are not climbing one continuous slope; you are climbing, giving elevation back, and climbing again. That undulation inflates the real work well beyond what the net figure suggests, and it changes how you should ration your effort across 31 km.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 3.31% average across 31.1 km hides a lot. With 612 m of intermediate descent baked in, the climbing sections must be steeper than the average to still net 1028 m of gain — the flat number is diluted by every downhill and false flat. Expect the gradient to swing widely rather than sit near 3%.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where you can spin, drink, and reset before the next rise
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each one resetting your rhythm
• A single steepest ramp that spikes far above the average and demands your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed forces you to overspend on every rise and coast the descents, burning matches you will want later. Instead, hold a steady, repeatable output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain. Anchor that target to your sustainable power output and stay just under it on the flatter sections so you have headroom for the ramps. If you are unsure of your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before the ride and set your pacing band from the result. Over 31.1 km, small over-efforts compound — protect the tank.

Gearing

The steepest ramp is what governs your setup, not the gentle average. For a pitch this severe you want a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 — so you can keep a survivable cadence without grinding to a stall. Check your chainrings and cassette before the ride, not at the base of the steep section. Confirming your lowest gear in the garage is far cheaper than discovering you are over-geared halfway up.

Summary

• Length: 31.1 km
• Average gradient: 3.31%
• Net elevation gain: 1028 m
• Total ascent: 1640 m
• Category: 2

Collado del Aire is longer and harder than its 3.31% average lets on. The gap between 1028 m net and 1640 m total ascent is the real story: pace by effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the whole 31.1 km as a management problem rather than a single sustained climb.