Girona is a popular base for professional cyclists, and the punishing Rocacorba serves as a useful form guide for the climbers in the region.

Dan Martin, Ryder Hesjedal and Sir Bradley Wiggins are among those to have stormed to the summit of the thigh-numbing ascent, while David Millar was so taken by the climb – and the region – he formed the Velo Club Rocacorba.

A punishing average gradient of 6.5 per cent with sections much steeper than that mean it is fast becoming a fabled ascent in the region – albeit that it was only relatively recently that it has been fully tarmacked.

The Col Collective’s latest video explores the ascent, with Millar himself joining Mike Cotty to guide the way to the summit, and talk through the nuances of the climb.

Cotty says: “Its changing gradient making finding a rhythm harder than you’d expect from a relatively short 13.8km ascent at an average of 6.5%.

“If you’re not out to simply enjoy the view then the secret to riding Rocacorba lies in riding the easier sections hard, where we’d normally encourage you to eat, drink and get back in the green.”

Check out the video above, or see more from the Col Collective here.