The inhumane climb to Coll de Pradell with 23% ramps
Coll de Pradell is an extreme high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.732m (5,682ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Barcelona, in Catalonia, northern Spain. The climb is brutal, with 23% of gradient sections.
Located within the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, in the Pyrenees, the road to the summit is paved but the toughest part (400 meters) is cement. The road surface is in very good condition. There's actually an abandoned mine near the summit whose railways and trains have been restored for touristic use. The experience of using this road is very impressive. There is very little traffic on the climb. The drive offers stunning views of Pedraforca (a famous Catalan mountain fork shaped).
The road is usually open from mid-April to November. Starting from the C-16 road, the elevation gain is 1.029 meters. The average percentage is 6,7%, and it’s 15-21 km long. It’s one of the true beasts of Spain, and somewhat unique. The climb is simply terrible. The first 7,5km average 5,3%, and then there's even a kilometre or so of descent. After this, the climb passes through Vallcebre and then you have the final 6km at an average gradient of 10,4%, of which the final three kilometres include a couple of stretches of hormigón (cement), with a maximum gradient of 23%.