Bochét de Carét

Overview

Bochét de Carét is a genuine hors catégorie climb, and the raw numbers leave no room for doubt about its severity. Over 20.8 km the road lifts you from a start elevation of just 59 m to a summit of 1792 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 1733 m at an average gradient of 8.34%. That average alone would qualify most climbs as brutal, but this one sustains it across a distance where fatigue compounds relentlessly. The total ascent of 1619 m confirms there is little in the way of respite — this is a climb that trends upward almost continuously from bottom to top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An 8.34% average across 20.8 km is punishing precisely because it is so consistent. There are no long false flats to soft-pedal and recover on; the road simply keeps climbing. The headline danger is the 21.84% maximum gradient — a wall that is more than two and a half times the average pitch. Ramps like that will spike your heart rate and force you out of any rhythm you have settled into, so knowing where the average sits versus where the spikes hit is the difference between finishing strong and cracking. Treat the 8.34% as your baseline effort and mentally reserve capacity for the pitches that climb toward 21.84%.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline early is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the urge to chase the opening kilometres — you have 20.8 km and 1733 m of gain to account for, and overcooking the first third is the classic way to blow up here. Aim to hold a steady sub-threshold power on the sustained 8.34% sections, then accept that the steepest ramps toward 21.84% will pull you briefly over your limit; that is unavoidable and fine, provided the baseline is controlled. If you are unsure what number to target, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit, and set a wattage cap you refuse to exceed in the first half.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this climb. With an average of 8.34% and pitches reaching 21.84%, you want the easiest cassette you can reasonably run. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a 34×32 will get most trained riders up the sustained sections, but on the steepest walls a 34×32 can leave you grinding at a cadence that shreds your legs. If your derailleur can handle it, a 34×34 gives you meaningful extra relief on the 21.84% ramps and lets you spin rather than lever your way over them. Over 20.8 km of climbing, protecting your cadence is protecting your finish.

Summary

Bochét de Carét is an uncompromising HC ascent: long, steep, and unforgiving in its consistency. Respect the length, gear low, pace off your FTP, and save something for the walls near 21.84%.

Length: 20.8 km
Average gradient: 8.34%
Max gradient: 21.84%
Start: 59 m
Summit: 1792 m
Net gain: 1733 m
Total ascent: 1619 m
Category: HC