Collado Pagasarri

Overview

Collado Pagasarri is a category 1 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact 7.7 km. From a near-sea-level start at -3 m, the road claws its way up to a 644 m summit, delivering 647 m of net elevation gain along the way. The average gradient sits at a demanding 8.45%, which already marks this out as a sustained effort rather than a rolling drag. But the number that defines Pagasarri is the maximum: 32.87%. That is a wall, not a ramp, and knowing where your legs can afford to spend matters more here than on gentler climbs.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an 8.45% average packed into 7.7 km, there is very little respite baked into this climb. The gap between the 8.45% mean and the 32.87% peak tells the story: the road pitches well beyond its own average in places, meaning any easier sections have to be paid back with brutal steep ramps elsewhere. The total ascent of 630 m over the same distance confirms the road climbs almost continuously, with only minor undulation to reduce the figure below the 647 m net gain. Expect a climb that rarely lets your heart rate settle, punctuated by ramps steep enough to force you out of the saddle whether you planned to stand or not.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep and short, pacing discipline early is everything. A 7.7 km effort at 8.45% typically lands in the 30-to-50 minute range depending on your power-to-weight, which puts most of it above threshold if you go out hard. Anchor your effort to your FTP: aim to hold a touch below it on the sustained 8.45% sections so you keep something in reserve for the 32.87% spike, which will spike your power well over threshold no matter how measured you are. If you are unsure where your ceiling sits, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. The cardinal error here is burning matches on the average grade and arriving at the steepest ramp already redlined.

Gearing

Gearing is where this climb rewards preparation. With a 32.87% maximum and an 8.45% average across 7.7 km, you want a bailout gear that lets you keep the cranks turning when the road stands up. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with at least a 34×32 is the sensible floor for most riders, and if you can fit a 34×34 you will thank yourself on the steepest pitch. Anything taller and you risk grinding to a near-standstill on that 32.87% ramp, where torque and traction both work against you. When in doubt, go easier.

Summary

Collado Pagasarri is short, savage, and unforgiving — a category 1 test defined by its 32.87% wall as much as its 8.45% average. Come with light gearing, a disciplined pacing plan, and respect for the steep bits.

Length: 7.7 km
Average gradient: 8.45%
Max gradient: 32.87%
Start: -3 m
Summit: 644 m
Net gain: 647 m
Total ascent: 630 m
Category: 1