Collada de les Cargolines

Overview

Collada de les Cargolines is a short, forgiving climb that trades severity for consistency. Over 5.7 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 419 m to a 623 m summit, a net gain of 204 m. The average gradient sits at just 3.61%, and the steepest ramp never bites harder than 4.58%. That narrow spread between average and maximum is the headline: this is a climb with almost no volatility, a road that stays remarkably close to its mean slope from bottom to top. Rated category 4 — the gentlest of the numbered categories, well below the HC monsters — it is the kind of ascent that rewards rhythm over raw power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is the tight band between the 3.61% average and the 4.58% maximum. Less than a percentage point separates them, which tells you the road rarely deviates from a shallow, even pitch. There are no walls, no sudden double-digit kickers to break your cadence, and no long false flats dragging the average down. Instead, expect a continuous, predictable grade that hovers around the mid-3% mark for most of its 5.7 km, nudging toward 4.58% only on its firmest sections. With a net gain of 204 m spread across the full length, the elevation accrues in a smooth, linear fashion rather than in punishing steps.

Pacing Notes

Because the slope is so uniform, Collada de les Cargolines is an ideal climb for holding a fixed effort. Aim to ride it just below your FTP — a sustainable tempo you could maintain well beyond the roughly 20-plus minutes this climb might take at a moderate pace. There are no gradient spikes forcing you out of the saddle, so lock into a comfortable cadence early and let the steady 3.61% do the metering for you. If you are unsure where your threshold sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator first, then pick a wattage you can carry evenly the whole way. Negative-splitting is easy here: with the max only at 4.58%, you can safely lift the effort in the final kilometre.

Gearing

For a climb this gentle, gearing is about comfort and cadence rather than survival. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 low is more than adequate for the 4.58% maximum — most riders will spend the whole climb in the middle of the cassette. If you value spinning a high cadence or you are carrying fatigue, a slightly deeper 34×34 gives you extra headroom without any downside on a slope this modest. Either 34×32 or 34×34 will let you sit and turn the pedals smoothly across the full 5.7 km; heavier gearing is entirely viable for stronger legs.

Summary

Collada de les Cargolines is a clean, consistent category 4 climb: short, steady, and free of surprises. It is a fine choice for tempo work, cadence practice, or simply a scenic gain of altitude without the suffering of a harder rating.

Length: 5.7 km
Average gradient: 3.61%
Max gradient: 4.58%
Start: 419 m
Summit: 623 m
Net gain: 204 m
Total ascent: 185 m
Category: 4