Colláu Palmeán

Overview

Colláu Palmeán is a category 2 climb that runs for 12.2 km and averages 4.45% from base to top. On paper that gradient reads gentle, but the numbers hide a climb with teeth: from a start elevation of 160 m it lifts you to a 701 m summit, a net elevation gain of 541 m across a total ascent of 531 m. The gap between net gain and total ascent tells you there is give-and-take along the way — this is not a wall you simply lean against, but a road that rolls, pitches, and occasionally bites. The 13.15% max gradient is nearly three times the average, so the effort is far spikier than the headline figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 4.45% average and a 13.15% max, Colláu Palmeán is a climb of uneven pressure. Because the total ascent of 531 m sits just below the 541 m net gain, you can expect the road to be almost entirely upward, with only the faintest relief between harder pitches. Long stretches near or slightly below the 4.45% average let you settle into a rhythm, and then the gradient rears toward that 13.15% peak, where cadence collapses and you are suddenly out of the saddle. Over 12.2 km these swings add up: the flatter sections invite you to spend, and the steep ramps punish anyone who did. Reading the road ahead — and holding something back for the pitches — is the whole game here.

Pacing Notes

The smart way to ride a climb like this is to pin your effort to a sustainable percentage of your FTP rather than chasing the steep ramps. Over 12.2 km at a 4.45% average, riding just above threshold on the shallow sections will leave you cooked when the gradient jumps toward 13.15%. Aim to sit comfortably under threshold on the mellow parts, then allow a controlled surge over threshold on the steepest ramps, knowing the flatter road afterward will let you recover. If you are not sure what your threshold actually is, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan your target power. Even effort by feel beats heroics by ego on a 541 m ascent.

Gearing

For a 12.2 km climb that spikes to 13.15%, gearing generosity pays off. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most trained riders over the steep pitches while keeping cadence respectable on the 4.45% average sections. If you are carrying fatigue, riding at altitude, or simply prefer to spin, a 34×34 gives you that extra margin for the 13.15% ramps without forcing a grind. Given the 541 m of climbing, the lower gear rarely goes to waste — better to have it and not need it.

Summary

Colláu Palmeán rewards patience and a well-chosen gear. Respect the 13.15% ramps, meter your effort against threshold across the full 12.2 km, and let the 4.45% average work in your favor rather than lulling you into overspending early.

Length: 12.2 km
Average gradient: 4.45%
Max gradient: 13.15%
Start: 160 m
Summit: 701 m
Net gain: 541 m
Total ascent: 531 m
Category: 2