Col de Fanlo

Overview

Col de Fanlo is a category 2 climb that covers 8.9 km at an average gradient of 5.09%. You start at 916 m and finish at 1370 m, a summit that sits 454 m above where you clipped in. On paper that net gain is modest, but the road doesn't hand it to you evenly: pitches of up to 11.1% mean the average understates the effort in the steepest stretches. This is a climb that rewards patience and punishes anyone who treats a mid-single-digit average as an invitation to hammer from the base.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.09% headline figure is a smooth number laid over a not-so-smooth road. With a maximum of 11.1%, the climb more than doubles its average pitch in its hardest moments, so expect the gradient to swing above and below the mean rather than hold steady. Practically, that means the ascent is built from a mix of gentler ramps where you can recover and short, sharp kickers that spike well past 10%. The gap between the 454 m net gain and the 431 m of total ascent is small, telling you this is an honest, near-continuous climb with little in the way of false-flat descents to break the rhythm. Every metre of elevation is essentially earned on the way up.

Pacing Notes

Anchor your effort to your FTP rather than to how the first kilometre feels. At 8.9 km, Fanlo is long enough that a too-hot start will cost you dearly when the 11.1% ramps arrive. Aim to hold a steady percentage of threshold on the gentler sections and allow your power to rise briefly over the steep pitches, then settle back down. If you don't know your threshold number, use the FTP estimator to set realistic targets before you ride. The goal across all 454 m of climbing is even perceived effort, not even speed — your pace will naturally slow on the steep bits and that's fine.

Gearing

For a climb averaging 5.09% but spiking to 11.1%, gearing that protects your cadence on the ramps is worth more than top-end speed. A 34×32 is a sensible baseline for most riders and will get you up the bulk of the 8.9 km comfortably. If you carry extra weight, ride tired, or simply want to spin rather than grind through the 11.1% sections, step up to a 34×34 — the extra range keeps your legs turning and your effort aerobic instead of forcing repeated surges above threshold on the steepest metres.

Summary

Col de Fanlo is a fair, honest category 2 climb: 8.9 km, a 5.09% average with 11.1% maximum ramps, and a clean 454 m net gain to a 1370 m summit. Pace it off your threshold, gear it to spin the steep pitches, and it becomes a satisfying test rather than a suffer-fest.

Length: 8.9 km
Average gradient: 5.09%
Max gradient: 11.1%
Start: 916 m
Summit: 1370 m
Net gain: 454 m
Total ascent: 431 m
Category: 2