Bochet de la Spinera

Overview

Bochet de la Spinera is a full-blooded HC climb — hors catégorie, the hardest rung there is above categories 1 through 4. Over 12.4 km it drags you from a start elevation of just 60 m up to a 1313 m summit, a net gain of 1253 m. The average gradient is a punishing 10.08%, and that word "average" hides a lot: this road never really lets you settle. With a max of 29.61%, there are pitches here steep enough to bring a seated rider to a standstill. This is a climb you respect from the first pedal stroke or one that breaks you well before the top.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the shape becomes clear. A 10.08% average across 12.4 km means the climb almost never dips into easy territory — there is no long false flat to recover on, no gentle run-in to warm the legs. Instead you get sustained double-digit gradient interrupted by savage spikes toward that 29.61% maximum. Note too the gap between net elevation gain and total ascent: 1253 m of net gain against 1148 m of total ascent. Because the climb only ever rises, that overall pitch is relentless and one-directional — every metre earned stays earned, with no descents handing anything back. Expect the steepest ramps to be short, sharp, and clustered where the road bends hardest.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep for this long, pacing is everything. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something in reserve for the ramps toward 29.61%, where power spikes whether you want them or not. The trap on a 10.08% average is going out too hard in the first few kilometres and paying for it across the remaining distance to the 1313 m summit. If you do not know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit — it is far better to under-cook the opening slopes and finish strong than to blow apart with a third of the 1253 m of climbing still above you.

Gearing

Do not under-gear this one. With a 10.08% average and pitches nudging 29.61%, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible minimum. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the steadier sections, but on the steepest ramps you will want more — a 34×34 gives you that extra escape gear to keep the cadence turning instead of grinding to a lurching halt. If your bike accepts an even larger sprocket, take it: over 12.4 km of this, spinning a low gear preserves the legs far better than muscling a big one.

Summary

Bochet de la Spinera earns its HC label honestly. It is steep, it is long, and it is unforgiving from bottom to top. Gear low, pace with discipline, and treat the 29.61% pitches with the caution they demand.

Length: 12.4 km
Average gradient: 10.08%
Max gradient: 29.61%
Start: 60 m
Summit: 1313 m
Net gain: 1253 m
Total ascent: 1148 m
Category: HC