Collet d'en Figueres

Overview

Collet d'en Figueres is a 7.1 km category 3 climb that trades brutal steepness for sustained, honest effort. It starts low, at just 43 m of elevation, and tops out at 363 m — a net gain of 320 m over the full length. At a 4.48% average gradient, it sits firmly in the middle ground: too long to blast, too gentle to fear, and exactly the kind of climb that rewards riders who can hold a steady rhythm without blowing up early.

The headline number to respect is the 18.44% maximum gradient. That single ramp is far steeper than the average suggests, and it will change how you approach the whole climb.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.48% average is a useful anchor, but it hides the shape. With a max of 18.44% against that gentle mean, the gradient clearly swings — long shallow stretches offset by at least one sharp pitch that pushes well over four times the average.

Because the net gain (320 m) is very close to the total ascent (301 m), this is a climb that goes almost entirely uphill: there is little to no false-flat descending built in to give your legs a break. What you feel is a continuous drag with the occasional bite. Read the road ahead so the steep ramps never catch you in the wrong gear.

Pacing Notes

At 4.48% for 7.1 km, this is a tempo climb. Aim to ride the shallow sections just below your threshold and treat the steep ramps as short over-efforts rather than places to grind to a halt. Anchoring your pacing to your FTP keeps you from spiking too hard on the flatter opening only to fade before the 18.44% pitch.

If you don't have a current threshold number, run the FTP estimator first, then set a target power you can hold for the roughly 20–30 minutes this climb will take most riders. Bank a little in reserve for the steep section — going into it fresh is far better than clawing back from a redline.

Gearing

For a 320 m ascent topping out at 18.44%, gearing matters more than the modest average implies. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the smart default here. A 34×32 will get most trained riders over the steep ramp while keeping cadence respectable on the 4.48% stretches.

If you climb at lower power, or you want to spin rather than muscle through that 18.44% pitch, step up to a 34×34. The extra sprocket buys you cadence exactly where the gradient bites hardest, and on a 7.1 km effort, protecting your legs early pays off near the summit.

Summary

Collet d'en Figueres is a well-rounded category 3 climb: long enough to demand pacing discipline, gentle enough on average to stay enjoyable, and just steep enough at its worst to punish a poor gear choice. Ride it to the numbers, respect the 18.44% ramp, and the 363 m summit arrives sooner than you'd expect.

Length: 7.1 km
Average gradient: 4.48%
Max gradient: 18.44%
Start: 43 m
Summit: 363 m
Net gain: 320 m
Total ascent: 301 m
Category: 3