Collado del Manzano

Overview

Collado del Manzano is a short, sharp category 4 climb in Spain (ES). It runs 2.1 km from a start elevation of 458 m to a summit of 600 m, for a net elevation gain of 142 m. The average gradient across that distance is 6.73%, which puts it firmly in the range where a small climb still demands honest effort rather than a spin. At just over two kilometres, it is over quickly, but the numbers tell you it will not be free.

The gap between the net elevation gain of 142 m and the total ascent of 143 m is tiny — roughly a metre of give-back across the whole climb. That means the road effectively points uphill the entire way with no meaningful descents to recover on. Practically, this is a clean, continuous grind: what you see on the profile is close to what your legs will feel, with no false flats or downhills to reset your rhythm.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.73% average hides the real story: the steepest ramp bites at 15.97%, more than double the mean. On a climb this short, a pitch that steep is a significant chunk of the total effort, and it will spike your power sharply if you hit it carrying too much speed. Expect the road to sit above average through the harder middle-to-upper sections while the average is pulled down by gentler bookends.

• A gentler opening or closing section that softens the overall average
• A sustained core that runs at or above the 6.73% mean
• A single steep ramp near 15.97% that is the crux of the climb
• Almost no recovery — total ascent (143 m) barely exceeds net gain (142 m)

Pacing Notes

On a climb this undulating in gradient but short in distance, pace by effort, not speed. Your speed will drop sharply on the 15.97% ramp and that is fine — chasing a constant pace there forces a surge you cannot sustain. Hold a steady sustainable power output through the steady sections and allow the steep pitch to be a controlled, brief overshoot rather than a redline you pay for at the top. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first and anchor your target watts to it.

Gearing

The 15.97% maximum is what should govern your setup. On a ramp that steep, you want a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 — so you can keep cadence up instead of grinding out of the saddle. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up a 16% pitch is a mistake you only make once.

Summary

• Length: 2.1 km
• Average gradient: 6.73%
• Maximum gradient: 15.97%
• Net elevation gain: 142 m
• Total ascent: 143 m
• Category: 4

Collado del Manzano is a brief but genuine test: a category 4 climb that stays honest the whole way and saves its sting for one steep ramp. Gear conservatively, pace by effort, and it rewards a smart, measured ride.