Col Amic

Overview

Col Amic is a Category 2 climb in France that covers 9.4 km from base to summit, rising 762 m in total ascent. Starting at 312 m elevation, the road climbs to a summit at 827 m. The average gradient of 5.51% is moderate on paper, but the maximum gradient of 15.43% signals that this is not a consistently graded highway. Expect genuine variation across the profile — sections that let you settle and recover, interrupted by sharp ramps that demand respect.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an average sitting just above 5.5% across 9.4 km, Col Amic falls into the category of climbs that feel manageable early and punish complacency later. The gap between average and maximum gradient — nearly 10 percentage points — tells you the climb is uneven. That 15.43% maximum is not a brief kicker; ramps of that severity require a genuine reduction in pace and a shift to lower gearing if you want to arrive at the summit with anything left.

A useful mental model for this climb:

• Lower slopes: Use the more moderate pitches to establish rhythm and hold back. Resist the urge to push hard on any early easier section.
• Steep ramps: When the gradient spikes toward double figures and beyond, reduce effort by shifting — not by grinding a big gear at low cadence. A cadence drop below 70 rpm on a 15% pitch accelerates fatigue quickly.
• Final kilometres: Category 2 climbs of this length accumulate fatigue in the legs before the summit is visible. Treat the upper third as the real climb.

Pacing Notes

For riders using power, target an effort around your FTP or slightly below for the majority of the ascent. The uneven gradient means normalised power will exceed average power meaningfully — factor that into your pacing strategy before you start. If you're unsure of your current FTP, the FTP estimator can give you a working baseline.

For riders going by feel, aim for a breathing rate that allows full sentences on the moderate sections. When the gradient hits its steepest pitches, controlled hard breathing is unavoidable — the goal is to limit how long you spend there by choosing the right gear early rather than late.

Gearing Recommendations

Given the 15.43% maximum gradient and 9.4 km total length, compact gearing is strongly advisable for most riders:

• Compact chainset (50/34) with an 11-32 or 11-34 cassette covers the full gradient range without forcing a grinding cadence.
• Riders on semi-compact (52/36) should ensure at least a 30-tooth sprocket is available for the steepest pitches.
• Standard double users will find the steep ramps uncomfortable without a 32+ sprocket in reserve.

Riders targeting a clean ascent without blowing up should plan to be in a comfortable gear before the gradient ramps — not after it has already forced the issue.

Summary

Col Amic is a legitimate test: 762 m of climbing over 9.4 km, with a character that varies substantially from its average gradient. The 5.51% mean gives a false sense of ease — the 15.43% maximum is the number that shapes how you should prepare, gear up, and ride it.