Port de Fontllonga

Overview

Port de Fontllonga is a compact category 3 climb that packs a satisfying amount of vertical into a short distance. Over 5.1 km the road lifts you from a start elevation of 390 m to a summit at 670 m, a net gain of 280 m. The average gradient of 5.46% puts it squarely in the honest, tempo-friendly bracket — steep enough to demand respect, mellow enough to ride within yourself if you pace it well. With a maximum gradient of 8.15%, there are moments that bite, but nothing that forces you off the bike or into a walk. It is the kind of ascent that rewards a rider who reads the road rather than one who simply attacks from the bottom.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The numbers tell a story of a climb that is consistent on paper but lumpy in reality. A 5.46% average across 5.1 km means the majority of the road sits close to that figure, but the 8.15% maximum reveals ramps that spike well above it. Expect the effort to arrive in pulses: stretches near the average where you can settle into a rhythm, punctuated by shorter, sharper kicks that push toward that 8.15% ceiling. The gap between the net elevation gain of 280 m and the total ascent of 258 m hints that the profile is not perfectly monotonic — there may be brief easing or flatter breathers where the road relents before the next rise. Treat those softer sections as recovery, not as an invitation to overspend.

Pacing Notes

The best way to ride a climb this length is to hold a steady, sustainable effort rather than chasing every ramp. Anchor your pacing to your FTP: for a category 3 climb of 5.1 km, riding at or just below threshold keeps you strong through the 8.15% pitches without blowing up before the 670 m summit. If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the effort. On the steeper kicks, let your cadence drop slightly and your power rise briefly, then settle back to your target as the gradient eases toward the 5.46% average. The total climb is short enough to push, but 280 m of gain still punishes an over-eager start.

Gearing

For a 5.46% average with 8.15% spikes, a compact setup is ideal. A 34×32 lowest gear will comfortably carry most riders through the steepest ramps while keeping cadence in a healthy range. If you favour spinning, prefer lighter days in the legs, or ride at a relaxed pace, a 34×34 gives you extra insurance on the pitches that approach the maximum gradient. Either choice lets you sit and turn the pedals rather than grinding out of the saddle, which matters over 280 m of climbing.

Summary

Port de Fontllonga is a short, honest category 3 test: 5.1 km at 5.46% with enough sting near 8.15% to keep you focused, all the way to a 670 m summit. Pace it to threshold, gear it compact, and enjoy a climb that gives back what you put in.

Length: 5.1 km
Average gradient: 5.46%
Max gradient: 8.15%
Start: 390 m
Summit: 670 m
Net gain: 280 m
Total ascent: 258 m
Category: 3