Collcardús

Overview

Collcardús is a short, honest climb that never bares its teeth. Over 4.4 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 246 m to a summit of 437 m, a net gain of 191 m at an average gradient of 4.34%. As a category 4 ascent — the gentlest rung on the classification ladder below categories 3, 2, 1 and the fearsome HC — it sits firmly in territory where rhythm matters more than raw power. This is a climb you can ride through rather than survive, provided you read its shape correctly and resist the urge to overcook the opening.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is consistency. With an average of 4.34% and a maximum that peaks at only 5.3%, the difference between the typical slope and the hardest slope is under a single percentage point. There are no walls, no sudden pitches to break your cadence, and no false flats deep enough to let you coast. Interestingly, the total ascent of 165 m falls short of the 191 m net elevation gain, which tells you the road climbs almost monotonically — it rarely dips and gives back height, so nearly every metre you pedal is a metre gained. That makes Collcardús a steady, uniform effort where the gradient you feel early is close to the gradient you feel at the top.

Pacing Notes

Because the slope is so even, this climb rewards a metered, sustainable effort rather than surges. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: on a category 4 grade of this length, most riders can hold a tempo just below threshold from bottom to top without blowing up. Settle into a comfortable rhythm in the first kilometre, then let the effort creep upward as the summit at 437 m draws closer. If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride so you can pick a wattage target you can actually defend across all 4.4 km. The margin between 4.34% and the 5.3% max is small enough that you should never need to leave your seat.

Gearing

Collcardús does not demand extreme gearing, but comfort still pays dividends on a sustained 4.4 km pull. A compact chainring paired with a mid-range cassette is ideal. For most riders a 34×32 will spin comfortably at the 4.34% average and cover the 5.3% max without strain. If you prefer to keep cadence high, carry lower body weight into steeper efforts, or simply value fresh legs at the 437 m summit, step up to a 34×34 for extra insurance. Either setup leaves you room to sit and turn the pedals smoothly rather than grinding, which is exactly how a climb this uniform should be ridden.

Summary

Collcardús is a friendly, rhythmic category 4 climb — steady from base to summit, kind on the legs, and perfect for dialling in a repeatable tempo effort.

Length: 4.4 km
Average gradient: 4.34%
Max gradient: 5.3%
Start: 246 m
Summit: 437 m
Net gain: 191 m
Total ascent: 165 m
Category: 4