La Galiana

Overview

La Galiana is a short, concentrated effort that packs its whole story into 1.8 km. At an average gradient of 7.75%, it never lets you settle into a rhythm you can coast — this is a climb you attack from the base rather than one you nurse. The road lifts from a start elevation of 973 m to a summit at 1113 m, a net gain of 140 m across less than two kilometres.

Officially a category-3 ascent, it sits well below the hors catégorie giants in length, but its steepness earns respect. With a maximum gradient of 8.61% and an average only a fraction below that, La Galiana is remarkably consistent: there is almost no gap between its steepest pitch and its typical slope. That uniformity is its defining trait.

How the Gradient Unfolds

What makes La Galiana distinctive is how little the gradient wavers. The 8.61% maximum is only 0.86 percentage points steeper than the 7.75% average, so the climb behaves less like a series of ramps and more like a single sustained incline. There are no flat recovery sections to exploit and no dramatic wall that demands a decisive surge — just steady, honest resistance from bottom to top.

Over 1.8 km the road delivers 140 m of net elevation gain, with a recorded total ascent of 120 m once minor undulations are accounted for. The near-linear profile means your power output can stay almost flat, which is a blessing for pacing and a curse for anyone hoping to freewheel.

Pacing Notes

Because the slope is so even, La Galiana rewards a disciplined, threshold-style effort. Ride it at or just below your sustainable ceiling and hold that intensity the whole way rather than spiking early and fading. A climb this short and steady is essentially one long tempo-to-threshold block, so anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the urge to go into the red in the opening metres.

If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before your next attempt and set a target power you can defend for the full 1.8 km. Given the 7.75% average, most riders will be seated and grinding — save any standing efforts for the final stretch toward the 1113 m summit.

Gearing

For a sustained 7.75% average touching 8.61%, gearing that keeps your cadence up is worth more than raw strength. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will suit strong climbers who can hold a solid cadence on a gradient this steady, while a 34×34 gives you an extra margin to spin rather than mash — valuable when the slope refuses to ease off.

If you tend to fade or you are carrying fatigue from earlier climbs, err toward the 34×34; the near-constant gradient means whatever gear you choose, you will be turning it continuously with no coasting to recover.

Summary

La Galiana is a compact, uncompromising climb whose charm lies in its consistency. There are no tricks here — just 1.8 km of steady 7.75% gradient, a modest 140 m of net gain, and a summit at 1113 m that arrives quickly if you pace it right and painfully if you don't. Treat it as a threshold test, gear for spin over grind, and it becomes a satisfying, repeatable effort.

Length: 1.8 km
Average gradient: 7.75%
Max gradient: 8.61%
Start: 973 m
Summit: 1113 m
Net gain: 140 m
Total ascent: 120 m
Category: 3