El Pas de la Casa

Overview

El Pas de la Casa is a Category 2 climb in Andorra (AD), running 12.5 km from a start elevation of 1,428 m up to a summit of 2,083 m. On paper it is a straightforward mid-length ascent: a net elevation gain of 655 m at an average gradient of 5.25%. Those numbers put it firmly in the range where a rider can settle into a rhythm rather than survive it — but the average tells only part of the story.

The gap between the net elevation gain of 655 m and the total ascent of 1,122 m is the number to watch. That 467 m difference means the road climbs, drops, and climbs again: for every metre of upward progress you keep, you effectively pay for nearly two. Undulation of that scale changes the character of the effort. You are not grinding one continuous slope — you are absorbing repeated surges, and the descents in between rob you of momentum and rhythm just as much as they hand back a few seconds.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 5.25% average across 12.5 km is deceptive here. The undulating profile means long stretches sit well below that figure, offset by pitches that climb far harder than the average implies. The steepest ramp bites at 15.48%, more than triple the mean — a gradient that forces you out of your seated tempo whether you planned to stand or not.

Expect the following across the profile:

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or dips, letting you spin and reset before the next rise
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each one a fresh acceleration rather than a steady grind
• A steepest ramp of 15.48% that demands your lowest gear and a deliberate, controlled effort

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort pacing beats even-speed pacing every time. Chasing a constant speed forces you to spike hard over each rise and coast the descents — a wasteful pattern that burns matches you will want later. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain. Give a touch back on the steep ramps and let the flatter sections carry you.

If you do not know your numbers, run the FTP estimator first and set a ceiling you can hold for the full 12.5 km. The temptation on the repeated short climbs is to answer every rise with a surge — resist it, because 467 m of extra vertical means there is always another one coming.

Gearing

The 15.48% maximum dictates your setup, not the average. Bring a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low end to spin the steepest ramp seated rather than lunging over it. Check your chainrings and cassette before the ride; discovering you are one gear short at 15% is not a mistake you want to make on the mountain.

Summary

• Length: 12.5 km
• Average gradient: 5.25%
• Maximum gradient: 15.48%
• Net elevation gain: 655 m
• Total ascent: 1,122 m
• Category: 2

El Pas de la Casa rewards riders who read the profile rather than the average. Pace to power, gear for the steepest pitch, and treat the 467 m of hidden extra climbing with the respect it deserves.