Collet de la Portella

Overview

Collet de la Portella is a category 3 climb that rewards rhythm over raw power. Over its 6.1 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 273 m to a summit at 574 m, a net gain of 301 m at an average gradient of 4.94%. That average sits comfortably in the range most riders can settle into and hold, which is exactly what makes this climb such a good test of pacing discipline. It is long enough to punish an over-eager start, but never so relentless that a steady effort can't carry you cleanly to the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline numbers tell a story of contrast. While the climb averages 4.94%, it hides a maximum gradient of 11.42% — more than double the mean. That gap is the key to reading Collet de la Portella. A 4.94% average across 6.1 km with a peak near 11.42% means the road is not uniform: gentler, almost recovery-paced stretches are offset by short, sharper ramps where the gradient more than doubles. The net gain of 301 m against a total ascent of 279 m confirms the profile trends upward without significant descents to break your rhythm — this is a climb that keeps taking, even where it eases.

Pacing Notes

The mistake here is treating the 4.94% average as your target effort. It isn't. On the steeper ramps toward 11.42%, your power will spike well above the number that produces that average, so pace against your FTP rather than against the gradient your eyes report.

Aim to hold a steady, sustainable effort on the flatter sections and let the ramps briefly lift you above threshold, knowing the pitch will ease again. Because the total climb is only 6.1 km, you can afford to sit a touch harder than you would on a longer ascent — but not so hard that the 11.42% pinch blows your legs before the summit at 574 m. If you're unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you decide how aggressively to ride the steep bits.

Gearing

For a category 3 climb with a 4.94% average, standard climbing gearing is plenty — but the 11.42% max is where gearing earns its keep. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 cassette gives most riders enough range to keep the cadence spinning through the steep ramps without grinding. If you know you fade late or prefer to sit and spin rather than stand and mash, size up to 34×34 for extra insurance on that 11.42% pinch. Neither will feel excessive across only 6.1 km, and the lighter gear keeps your effort clean on the sharp sections.

Summary

Collet de la Portella is an honest, well-shaped test: a 4.94% average that flatters, a 11.42% max that bites, and a length of 6.1 km that rewards a rider who paces to the numbers rather than the eye.

Length: 6.1 km
Average gradient: 4.94%
Max gradient: 11.42%
Start: 273 m
Summit: 574 m
Net gain: 301 m
Total ascent: 279 m
Category: 3