Pas del Trencabarrals

Overview

Pas del Trencabarrals is a Category 1 climb in Spain, running 15.5 km from a valley floor at 79 m to a summit at 974 m. On paper it is a mid-length ascent with a net elevation gain of 895 m and an average gradient of 5.79% — numbers that suggest a steady, honest grind rather than anything vicious. That framing is misleading, and the reason is buried in the fine print of the profile.

The climb records 1,813 m of total ascent against just 895 m of net gain. That gap of more than 900 m means roughly half of your climbing is immediately given back as descent — the road undulates hard, throwing away altitude you fought for and forcing you to re-earn it. For the legs this matters enormously: the effort you spend is nearly double what the net gain implies, and every dip that feels like a gift is a debt you repay on the next ramp.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.79% average hides a road that rarely sits at 5.79%. Undulation on this scale means the profile is a sawtooth, not a ramp — long stretches near the average are the exception, and the real work happens in the punchy sections between recovery dips.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where the road gives back altitude — do not overcook these
• Repeated short climbs that force you to reset your rhythm again and again
• Steep ramps well above the average that demand your lowest gears and biggest efforts

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-speed pacing will destroy you — holding a fixed pace over the steep ramps spikes your power far past anything sustainable. Pace to your sustainable power output instead: hold a steady effort, let your speed rise on the shallow and downhill sections, and accept slowing on the steep pitches rather than blowing up to defend a number.

Because the descents let you recover, you can afford brief surges above threshold on the ramps — but keep them controlled. If you are unsure of your ceiling, run the numbers through our FTP estimator before committing to a target for the day.

Gearing

Gearing here is governed by the steep ramps, not the 5.79% average. Come with a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low end to keep cadence up when the road kicks. Spinning a low gear on the steep sections protects your legs for the repeated climbs that follow. Check your setup before the ride: the wrong cassette turns the undulation from manageable into a grind.

Summary

• Length: 15.5 km
• Average gradient: 5.79%
• Net elevation gain: 895 m
• Total ascent: 1,813 m
• Category: 1

Pas del Trencabarrals is a climb defined by its undulation, not its average. Treat the 1,813 m of total ascent — not the 895 m net gain — as the real measure of the day, pace to effort, gear low, and the profile becomes a rhythm you can manage rather than one that manages you.