21.5
PDI
12.2 mi
DISTANCE
3,757 ft
GAINED
5.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The climb averages 5.7% over 19.6 km (12.2 mi), but the effort is not evenly spread. The first 2 km (1.2 mi) run at about 4.7%, then a short, sharp ramp roughly 3-4 km (1.9-2.5 mi) in is the hardest part of the day: our data has the steepest kilometer (0.6 mi) at 11.3% and the steepest half kilometer (0.3 mi) at 12.6%. The road then eases and briefly flattens around 5-6 km (3.1-3.7 mi) before pitching up again.
From about 11 km (6.8 mi) to the top the grade holds a steady 6-7% for roughly 8 km (5.0 mi), which is where the pass starts to feel long. The steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) average 8.9%, the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) average 6.7% and the steepest 10 km (6.2 mi) average 6.4%. Our route climbs from 959 m (3,145 ft) to 2,070 m (6,790 ft).
Roadway: The C-28 is paved all the way to the pass and much of the surface is good, with wide lanes and long straights on the lower and middle slopes. Ground movement and cracking near the pass have left some stretches patched and uneven, and the emergency stabilization work there reduces the road to alternating single-lane traffic controlled by lights, so allow extra time for waits. Snow closes the pass at times through winter and early spring, so check Servei Català de Trànsit before riding outside summer.
Traffic: The Esterri side is the quieter approach, but the C-28 is also the everyday road for people commuting across the pass to the Val d'Aran, so expect steady local traffic on weekday mornings and evenings and more cars on holiday weekends. Riding out of the village early in the day keeps it pleasant, and the summer roadworks add short queues at the signals.
Parking: Esterri d'Àneu is a village of roughly 900 people and the natural place to leave a car, because the climb starts on the edge of the center. Our Port de la Bonaigua page starts about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) south of the village on the valley road, so if you park in Esterri you can also use it to add that gentle approach.
Provisions: Stock up in Esterri d'Àneu, the capital of the Vall d'Àneu, where the shops, restaurants and hotels are concentrated. There is little on the climb itself, so fill both bottles before leaving and carry food, since most riders will be on the climb for around an hour and a half or more.
Gear: A compact crankset with a 30 or 32 tooth cog handles the 11% ramp early on and the steady 6-7% above it. The upper slopes are open and exposed, so pack a windproof layer and arm warmers: it is noticeably cooler at 2,072 m (6,798 ft) than in the valley, and the descent toward Vielha on the far side is long.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Esterri d'Àneu is the historic capital of the Vall d'Àneu and a good base for the pass. The old quarter holds the parish church of Sant Vicenç and a 13th-century Romanesque bridge, and Casa Gassia, an 18th-century house restored as the headquarters of the Ecomuseu de les Valls d'Àneu, explains how people lived in these valleys. The village holds a weekly market, and an autumn fair, the Fira de Santa Teresa, takes place in mid-October.
The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is close by and makes a good rest-day excursion. For a shorter ride from the same village, see our Esterri - Cerbi and Esterri - Llavorre climbs, and for the Val d'Aran side of the pass, see our Port de la Bonaigua, Arties page.
Conditions at the pass can differ sharply from the valley, so check the forecast before you set out with our Weather tool.
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