Collado Moandi

Overview

Collado Moandi is a category 1 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact profile. Over 9.3 km it lifts you from a low start of 40 m to a summit at 785 m, a net elevation gain of 745 m with a total ascent of 721 m once the small dips and rolls are accounted for. The average gradient is a steep 8%, and it bites hardest at a maximum of 12.56%. Nothing about this climb is gentle: an 8% average sustained across more than nine kilometres is the kind of number that separates riders who paced well from those who went out too hard.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Collado Moandi is consistency at a high level. With an 8% average and a 12.56% peak, the spread between typical and maximum gradient is only about 4.56% — this is not a climb of dramatic ramps followed by recovery flats. Instead, you should expect long stretches hovering near or just above 8%, punctuated by pitches that lean toward that 12.56% ceiling. The 24 m difference between the 745 m net gain and the 721 m total ascent tells you there is very little descending to break the rhythm. What you climb, you keep. Plan for a grind that rarely eases, where the challenge is holding a steady effort rather than surviving isolated spikes.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this sustained, pacing is everything. Because the gradient sits so consistently around 8%, your power output will settle into a narrow band — which makes it an ideal climb to ride at or just below your FTP. Going even slightly too hard in the opening kilometres will cost you dearly across the full 9.3 km, so anchor your effort to a target you can hold for the roughly 40-plus minutes this climb will demand. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your attack. Aim to reach the steepest pitches, near that 12.56% maximum, with something in reserve rather than already redlined.

Gearing

An 8% average with pitches to 12.56% over 9.3 km rewards generous gearing. For most riders, a compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible choice. A 34×32 will get many fit riders up in reasonable shape, but on a sustained category 1 effort like this, the extra margin of a 34×34 is well worth having — it lets you spin rather than grind through the steepest sections and protects your legs for the full 745 m of climbing. If in doubt, gear easier than you think you need; there is no glory in walking the last ramp.

Summary

Collado Moandi is a demanding, honest category 1 climb: steady, steep, and unrelenting from bottom to top. Pace it to your threshold, gear for the pitches, and respect the sustained 8% average.

Length: 9.3 km
Average gradient: 8%
Max gradient: 12.56%
Start: 40 m
Summit: 785 m
Net gain: 745 m
Total ascent: 721 m
Category: 1