Collformic

Overview

Collformic is a Category 1 climb in Spain, running 9.3 km from base to summit. It starts at 527 m and tops out at 1,149 m, for a net elevation gain of 622 m over its length. The average gradient sits at 6.67%, the kind of number that reads as a steady, honest grind on paper.

But the profile tells a different story. While the net gain is 622 m, the total ascent over the climb is 992 m — a gap of 370 m. That difference means Collformic undulates: it climbs, gives some elevation back on descents or flatter dips, then climbs again. You pay for those recovered meters twice. The effort in your legs will track the 992 m of total ascent, not the tidier 622 m net figure, so plan and fuel accordingly.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.67% average hides both the recovery sections and the sharp pitches. With 370 m of undulation baked in, long stretches sit below average or descend, which drags the mean down and masks the steeper ramps. The steepest recorded pitch hits 21.36% — more than triple the average — so the hardest sections demand a very different response than the number suggests.

Across the profile, expect:

• Flatter or downhill recovery sections where you can shift up and spin
• Repeated short climbs that punch above the average gradient
• A steepest ramp reaching 21.36%, where momentum matters most

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, do not chase even speed — the descents and flats would tempt you to bury yourself on the ramps to hold a number, and you would blow up before the summit. Ride to even effort instead. Anchor your pace to your sustainable power output: hold a steady, repeatable intensity on the climbs, ease genuinely on the recovery dips, and let your speed vary with the terrain.

If you do not know your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go. Over 9.3 km with 992 m of total ascent, a pace that feels sustainable in the first kilometer is what carries you to 1,149 m.

Gearing

The 21.36% maximum gradient governs your setup. At that pitch, a standard chainset will leave you grinding to a halt. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low gear to keep cadence on the steepest ramp without wrecking your legs early. Check your setup before the ride; the wrong cassette on a 21% wall is a walk, not a climb.

Summary

• Length: 9.3 km
• Average gradient: 6.67%
• Maximum gradient: 21.36%
• Net elevation gain: 622 m
• Total ascent: 992 m
• Category: 1

Collformic is a Category 1 test that punishes riders who read only the average. Respect the 992 m of total climbing, gear for the 21.36% ramp, and ride to even effort — do that, and the summit at 1,149 m is well within reach.