Coll de les Llaceres

Overview

Coll de les Llaceres is short on paper and brutal in the legs. Over just 4.6 km it climbs from a near-sea-level start at 10 m to a summit of 466 m, delivering 456 m of net elevation gain. That works out to an average gradient of 9.9% — a figure that would be punishing across any distance, and here it is sustained for the full climb. The classification tells the story: this is a Category 1 ascent, one rung below hors catégorie and firmly in the territory reserved for climbs that hurt the strong.

The numbers hint at what makes this one nasty. An average of 9.9% is already steep, but the max gradient touches 22.63% — more than double the average. That gap means the climb is not uniform. Somewhere on these 4.6 km, the road kicks toward a wall.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Read the two figures together and the shape becomes clear. With 456 m of net gain but only 424 m of total ascent recorded, the climb runs almost relentlessly upward — there is little in the way of false flat or recovery to bleed away elevation and pad the ascent total. You gain height almost every metre you turn the pedals.

The 9.9% average sets the baseline effort, but the 22.63% maximum is the crux. A pitch that steep is where cadence collapses, the front wheel goes light, and momentum becomes your only friend. Expect the climb to alternate between merely severe stretches near the average and one or more ramps that spike toward that 22.63% figure. Survive the spike and the rest, though hard, feels almost manageable by comparison.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and this short, pacing is about protecting yourself from the ramps rather than metering a long effort. Ride the 9.9% sections just under threshold so you have headroom when the gradient jumps toward 22.63%. Your FTP is the number that governs how long you can hold the steep pitches before you blow — know it before you start.

If you are not sure where your threshold sits, run the FTP estimator and plan your effort around the result. On the 22.63% wall, a brief surge above threshold is unavoidable; the trick is keeping those surges short enough that you can settle back once the road eases toward the average.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With an average of 9.9% and a peak of 22.63%, gearing is the difference between spinning and grinding to a stall. A 34×32 is the sensible floor for most riders, and even then the steepest ramp will have you out of the saddle and heaving. If your legs or your bike allow it, fit a 34×34 — the extra range buys you a few precious rpm on the 22.63% pitch, which is exactly where you need them. Compact chainrings and the widest cassette you can run are the friends of anyone tackling a Category 1 climb this steep.

Summary

Coll de les Llaceres packs a full Category 1 challenge into 4.6 km: an unforgiving 9.9% average, a leg-breaking 22.63% maximum, and 456 m of climbing that never really lets up. Gear low, respect the wall, and pace to the ramps.

Length: 4.6 km
Average gradient: 9.9%
Max gradient: 22.63%
Start: 10 m
Summit: 466 m
Net gain: 456 m
Total ascent: 424 m
Category: 1