Coll de la Gallina

Overview

Coll de la Gallina is a Hors Catégorie (HC) climb in Andorra. It runs 5.6 km from a start elevation of 928 m to a summit at 1928 m, for a net elevation gain of 1000 m. That places it firmly among the hardest sustained efforts you can ride: an HC label is reserved for climbs that sit beyond the standard categories, and the numbers here earn it.

The net gain of 1000 m does not tell the whole story. The total ascent recorded on the way up is 1293 m, meaning roughly 293 m of the climbing is "wasted" on sections you re-gain after dipping or leveling. That undulation matters: every metre you descend or coast is a metre you have to climb back, and it breaks the steady rhythm that makes long ascents manageable. Plan for an effort that is harder than the net figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 17.91% average is punishing on its own, but averages smooth over the reality of the road. On a climb with 293 m of undulation, the true grade swings well above and below that mean. Expect the steepest ramps to spike far harder than 17.91%, offset by shallower or flatter links.

• Flatter or recovery sections where the road eases and you can spin
• Repeated short climbs stacked back-to-back rather than one continuous wall
• One or more steep ramps that sit sharply above the average and define the effort

Read the road ahead and treat each ramp as its own micro-effort rather than pacing to the average.

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, steady climb you would ride to even effort and let speed vary. Here the undulation flips that logic. Chasing even speed on the steep ramps will spike you far over your sustainable power output and leave nothing for the next pitch. Instead, hold a controlled effort on the ramps, accept the slower speed, and use the flatter links to recover rather than to push. Know your ceiling before you start: run the FTP estimator and set a hard cap you refuse to exceed on the early ramps, even when they feel easy.

Gearing

Gearing on Coll de la Gallina is governed by its steepest ramps, not its average. Those pitches demand a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 as a starting point, and go lower if you have it. Undergearing here forces you to grind at high torque and low cadence, which drains your legs long before the summit. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the cassette, the chainring, and that your derailleur can handle the largest sprocket.

Summary

• Length: 5.6 km
• Average gradient: 17.91%
• Net elevation gain: 1000 m
• Total ascent: 1293 m
• Category: HC

Coll de la Gallina is a short climb by distance but an extreme one by intensity. Pace to effort, gear low, and respect the undulation — the extra 293 m of climbing is where the day is won or lost.