19.2
PDI
5.5 mi
DISTANCE
2,494 ft
GAINED
8.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Lisa Irizarry and Matthew Jiang, New York, New York.
INTRO
Els Cortals d'Encamp is a short, steep dead-end climb above the parish of Encamp in central Andorra: 8.9 km (5.5 mi) at an 8.5% average, gaining 760 m (2494 ft) from upper Encamp to the high meadows of Els Cortals at about 2095 m (6872 ft). It's one of the steepest paved climbs in Andorra, and it wastes no time - the first kilometer averages around 12%.
The road climbs through a string of switchbacks with only a few wooded stretches, so the views back over Encamp and the valley open up early. Near the top the slopes level out into the pastures of Els Cortals, dotted with stone and timber buildings, and the road ends by the middle station of the Funicamp, the long gondola that links Encamp with the Grandvalira ski area. It's a dead end, so traffic is light and you come back down the way you went up.
Els Cortals hosted the summit finish of stage 11 of the 2015 Vuelta a España, a brutal all-Andorran queen stage designed by local star Joaquim "Purito" Rodríguez. Mikel Landa soloed to the win, Fabio Aru took the red jersey, and Chris Froome, who crashed early in the day, lost more than eight minutes and left the race with a fractured foot.
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. This climb is all about the first half. The opening kilometer out of Encamp averages around 12%, the steepest kilometer on the climb averages 11.7%, and the steepest 2 km hold 10.4%. There's a brief easing to around 7% early on, then the road kicks back into double digits for another 2 km.
The steepest 5 km average 9.5%. The second half settles into a steady 8% before the last half kilometer finally eases into the meadows at Els Cortals. Short pitches reach about 19%, so save something for them.
Roadway: Paved all the way to the top. The Els Cortals road is narrow and twisting, with several switchbacks and limited room to pass. A mostly unpaved track continues from the top toward the Engolasters lake and Andorra la Vella, but it isn't suitable for road bikes, so plan on an out-and-back. As on any Andorran mountain road, watch for gravel and small rockfalls after storms.
Traffic: Light. The road is a dead end serving the scattered houses of Els Cortals and the Funicamp middle station, so most of what you'll meet is local traffic and hikers' cars. The only busy road you'll deal with is the CG-2 through Encamp at the very start.
Parking: Encamp's municipal car parks are close to the start, and the first half hour is free in most of them. The Funicamp has its own car park at the base station near the start roundabout, and the middle station at the top makes an easy meeting point for a support driver.
Gear: Bring your lowest gears. The first half of this climb sits around 10% for long stretches, with pitches near 19%, and there's very little flat ground to recover on. A compact crankset with a large cassette (34x32 or similar) makes a real difference here.
Provisions: Encamp has supermarkets, bakeries and cafes along the main road, so stock up before you start. There are no shops on the climb, so carry what you need for the full out-and-back. You finish above 2000 m (6562 ft), where it can be noticeably cooler than in the valley - bring a layer for the descent.
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.
Els Cortals is worth a few minutes at the top. From near the Funicamp middle station, a path drops down to a long suspension bridge over the stream and on to the Via Ferrada del Clots de l'Aspra, a short but steep via ferrata rated C, and the meadows along the road are popular picnic spots in summer.
Back in Encamp, two stops stand out for cyclists. The Museu Nacional de l'Automòbil on Avinguda Joan Martí shows cars from the 1880s to the 1970s along with more than 100 bicycles, and the Romanesque complex of Sant Romà de les Bons, with its church, defense tower and the remains of a fortified house, offers free guided tours in July and August.
Our Els Cortals + Coll Ordino + Beixalis loop turns this climb into a full day: 71.5 km (44.4 mi) with 2377 m (7799 ft) of climbing. See other climbs nearby, or build a custom route from here, with our Routes in the Area tool.
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